Designing and Implementing a 5-Year Transfusion Medicine Diploma Program in China

Analysis of the effect and influencing factors of a clinical competency-oriented prospective pre-job training programme on the comprehensive ability of new employees in the department of transfusion medicine

BACKGROUND

The subject of pre-job training for transfusion service laboratory technicians is very important. The key is how to make a reasonable systematic training programme to improve the effectiveness of training.

METHODS

A prospective training programme was conducted and an assessment was performed at enrollment (baseline) and reassessment after 3-months training, using the same tools with a validated questionnaire.

RESULTS

Clinical competency-oriented prospective pre-job training significantly improves the clinical transfusion-related comprehensive skills of new employees. The post-training assessment score was significantly affected by undergraduate major.

CONCLUSION

This study provided a clinical competency-oriented training programme for new employees in the department of transfusion medicine that could effectively enhance their comprehensive abilities.

Population-based projections of blood supply and demand, China, 2017-2036

Objective

To estimate the long-term effect of the changing demography in China on blood supply and demand.

Methods

We developed a predictive model to estimate blood supply and demand during 2017–2036 in mainland China and in 31 province-level regions. Model parameters were obtained from World Population Prospects, China statistical yearbook 2016, China’s report on blood safety and records from a large tertiary hospital. Our main assumptions were stable age-specific per capita blood supply and demand over time.

Findings

We estimated that the change in demographic structure between 2016 (baseline year) and 2036 would result in a 16.0% decrease in blood supply (from 43.2 million units of 200 mL to 36.3 million units) and a 33.1% increase in demand (from 43.2 million units to 57.5 million units). In 2036, there would be an estimated shortage of 21.2 million units. An annual increase in supply between 0.9% and 1.8% is required to maintain a balance in blood supply and demand. This increase is not enough for every region as regional differences will increase, e.g. a blood demand/supply ratio ≥ 1.45 by 2036 is predicted in regions with large populations older than 65 years. Sensitivity analyses showed that increasing donations by 4.0% annually by people aged 18–34 years or decreasing the overall blood discard rate from 5.0% to 2.0% would not offset but help reduce the blood shortage.

Conclusion

Multidimensional strategies and tailored, coordinated actions are needed to deal with growing pressures on blood services because of China’s ageing population.