What does this research mean for the field?

Entry-level medical professionals in a tertiary care teaching hospital in northern India have high knowledge and positive attitudes towards hemovigilance, but exhibit a significant gap in actual reporting practices of transfusion reactions. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to hemovigilance among entry-level medical professionals.

February 23, 2026Open Access

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Related to Hemovigilance: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Entry-Level Medical Professionals in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Northern India

Key Points

The aim is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to hemovigilance among entry-level medical professionals.
Conducted a descriptive cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire.
Sample included 414 entry-level medical professionals from a tertiary care hospital.
The questionnaire covered demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to hemovigilance.
Data collected offline over three months.
High awareness (93.2%) of transfusion reactions, but only 36.7% knew of the National Hemovigilance Program.
Positive attitudes towards hemovigilance with 100% support for its benefits.
Significant practice gap with only 5.3% having reported a transfusion reaction.
Suggestions include mobile app development and compulsory reporting.

Abstract

Background: Hemovigilance is a critical surveillance system designed to enhance blood transfusion safety by monitoring, detecting, and preventing adverse transfusion reactions. Despite the launch of the Hemovigilance Program of India, awareness and engagement remain notably low among entry-level medical professionals, potentially compromising patient safety and quality of care. Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) related to hemovigilance, identify barriers to adverse transfusion reaction reporting, and recommend strategies to enhance participation and improve reporting culture among entry-level medical professionals at a tertiary care teaching hospital in northern India. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 414 entry-level medical professionals, including MBBS students (first 93.2%), and most participants recognized their preventability (328; 79.2%), yet only 152 (36.7%) were aware of the National Hemovigilance Program. Positive attitudes towards hemovigilance were evident, with nearly all participants endorsing its benefits (414; 100%) and acknowledging professional responsibility to report (396; 95.6%). Support for curricular integration (402; 97.1%) and enrolment of every institution under PvPI (384; 92.7%) was strong. However, only 56 (13.5%) had witnessed a transfusion reaction, and a meagre 22 (5.3%) had reported one, signifying a substantial practice gap. Suggested improvements included user-friendly mobile app development, compulsory reporting, and targeted educational interventions. Conclusion: Although medical professionals demonstrated strong knowledge and positive attitudes toward hemovigilance, practical implementation is lacking. Enhanced education, streamlined reporting tools, and institutional support are imperative to bridge the gap between awareness and practice, thereby improving blood transfusion safety and patient outcomes. Early introduction of hemovigilance and incentivization like certificates of appreciation, acknowledgement of names on hospital display boards or newsletters/magazines, grace marks, attendance credit for students, and a token of appreciation for faculty members can play a big role in improving reporting.

Mark Helpful

Bookmark

Relay

View Full Paper