Community-Facility Transfusion Committees for Blood Transfusions

(CoBAnK Trial)

Overseen By Collin M Van Ryn

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Minnesota

Disqualifiers: Level 2 hospitals, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

9 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Community-Facility Transfusion Committee (CFTC)?

The research suggests that hospital transfusion committees (HTCs), which are similar to CFTCs, play a significant role in improving blood transfusion practices by overseeing and guiding the process, ensuring safety, and implementing quality improvement measures. This indicates that CFTCs could also be effective in enhancing transfusion safety and quality. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Community-Facility Transfusion Committee (CFTC) approach safe for blood transfusions?

The safety of blood transfusions is closely monitored by committees like the Transfusion Safety and Haemovigilance Committees (TSHC) and the Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) scheme. These committees focus on improving transfusion safety, reducing risks like transfusion-related lung injury and bacterial contamination, and ensuring proper training and procedures are followed to protect patients. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How does the Community-Facility Transfusion Committees treatment differ from other treatments for blood transfusions?

The Community-Facility Transfusion Committees treatment is unique because it involves a collaborative approach between community and healthcare facilities to oversee and improve blood transfusion practices, ensuring safety and appropriate use. This differs from traditional methods that may not involve such structured oversight and community involvement. ^{1 4 5 6 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The strategy of the CoBAnK study is to establish and enable the function of Community-Facility Transfusion Committees (CFTCs) incorporating diverse representation involving hospital, community, and county leadership, to improve blood availability and transfusion at the point-of-care.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for hospitals in Kenya that are level 3 or higher, have done at least 20 blood transfusions last year, and don't have a KTTA-approved blood bank on-site. They must get their blood from an Alpha Facility within the same county.

Inclusion Criteria

My hospital is certified for advanced medical care.

My treatment facility does not have an approved blood bank on site.

I receive blood transfusions from an Alpha Facility.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Implementation

Establishment and functioning of Community-Facility Transfusion Committees (CFTCs) to improve blood availability and transfusion

Duration not specified

Evaluation

Evaluation of the CFTC strategy across nine transfusing facilities in three counties

Duration not specified

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Community-Facility Transfusion Committee (CFTC)

Trial Overview The study is testing if setting up Community-Facility Transfusion Committees (CFTCs) with hospital, community, and leadership involvement can improve the availability of blood for transfusions at local care points.

Participant Groups

Group I: CFTC Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Community-Facility Transfusion Committees (CFTCs) will be established at the facilities randomized to this arm.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Minnesota

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,459

Recruited

1,623,000+

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Collaborator

Trials

3,987

Recruited

47,860,000+

University of Pittsburgh

Collaborator

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

Strathmore University

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

50+

Center for Public Health and Development, Kenya (CPHD)

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

9+

Findings from Research

The Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) scheme has analyzed 2630 transfusion safety events since its establishment in 1996, leading to key recommendations that have improved blood safety practices in the UK.

SHOT's findings have highlighted critical issues such as the decline in transfusion-related graft vs host disease due to leucodepletion, while also identifying transfusion-related acute lung injury and bacterial contamination as significant risks, prompting the development of targeted safety strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Serious hazards of transfusion: a decade of hemovigilance in the UK. Stainsby, D., Jones, H., Asher, D., et al.[2022]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An international survey on the role of the hospital transfusion committee. [2018]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Survey of the implementation of the recommendations in the Health Services Circular 1998/224 'Better Blood Transfusion'. [2019]

3. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Regional program to improve the quality of blood transfusions in hospitals: experience of the Poitou-Charentes region]. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fourteen-year experience of a tertiary hospital transfusion committee in West Africa. [2014]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving transfusion practice: ongoing education and audit at two tertiary speciality hospitals in Western Australia. [2011]

6. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Transfusion safety and haemovigilance committees]. [2007]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Incidence of transfusion reactions: a multicenter study utilizing systematic active surveillance and expert adjudication. [2020]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Serious hazards of transfusion: a decade of hemovigilance in the UK. [2022]

9. Belgium pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[The Hemovigilance Commission of the University Hospital Center]. [2017]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Surveillance of transfusion errors: putting data to use in the U.K. [2017]

11. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical audit of the use of fresh-frozen plasma and platelets in a tertiary teaching hospital and the impact of a new transfusion request form. [2022]