The use of social media as a tool for patient blood management and transfusion medicine education.

Abstract

Transfusion is one of the most performed medical procedures. Wrong indications are common and are probably related to the scarcity of transfusion teaching during medical education. The development of a new way to improve transfusion education is paramount. Social media has the potential to reach larger audiences for rapid communication of medical content. The use of social media for transfusion education in Brazil has not been published. The aim of this article is to describe a new tool to improve transfusion learning. Evidence-based cards were created. Initially, these cards were sent by WhatsApp. Later, Instagram and Facebook pages were created. EducaSangue, as this e-learning project was called, is a tool for the spreading of transfusion knowledge that permits the exchange of experiences. By April 2021, Facebook and Instagram pages had 8300 and 5100 followers, respectively. Cards about single red blood cell (RBC) unit, alternatives to transfusion, transfusion reactions and pre-transfusion tests were published. Doctors and other health professionals follow EducaSangue. RBC transfusions reduced in Ceara and single-unit RBC increased by 28%, although not statistically significant. In Brazil, the minority of medical schools have transfusion as a discipline. The scarcity of transfusion education is related to the poorer care of the patient. Technological innovation has been used for educational changes and is an alternative to formal education. Social media is an interesting tool to provide quality to medical services, since they can reach a broader public, especially where personal contact is difficult.