Background: The Korean Blood Safety Commission established the Regional Networks for Blood Transfusion Management (RNBTM) Project which has operated in 14 regions across the country since 2017 to help blood transfusion management in small and medium-sized medical institutions. Since implementation of the RNBTM, participant’s satisfaction has not been evaluated, therefore in order to evaluate participant’s satisfaction and assist in future planning a survey was conducted. Methods: Fourteen facilitators participated in an anonymous on-line survey (5 questions). Laboratory Medicine (LM) doctors from small and medium-sized medical institutions from 14 regions also participated in a separate anonymous on-line survey (15 questions). Results: 14/14 (100%) facilitators responded to the survey. In addition to the RNBTM they were also in favor of establishing a Network of University Hospitals. 135 LM doctors responded to the survey. Of the RNBTM participants, 94.1% (111/118) replied that RNBTM was helpful in providing and exchanging blood transfusion information. Respondents indicated that they wished to remain part of RNBTM into the future because they felt that RNBTM not only helped improve quality of blood transfusions but also other aspects in the laboratory. In 70.4% (95/135) of participating medical institutions, LM doctors have been the Chairperson of the Hospital Transfusion Committee. Conclusion Extremely positive survey results were received from LM doctors. These survey results from LM doctors and facilitators will be helpful in developing and planning future projects related to RNBTM.

BACKGROUND: The risk of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) of HBV, HCV, and HIV in Korea has been reduced significantly by strengthening the blood safety policies. On the other hand, the risk of TTI still exists due to the diagnostic window period or viral variants. METHODS: The residual risks of TTI of HBV, HCV, and HIV were calculated from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2018 by dividing the data into two year sets. The residual risk was conducted by separating the donors who donated only once and those who donated more than once during each period. RESULTS: In the first two years, the residual risks of HBV, HCV, and HIV were calculated to be 17.54/106, 0.42/106, and 0.30/106 respectively. The residual risk of HBV and HCV over the last two years was calculated to be 9.41/106 and 0.27/106, showing a tendency to decrease with time. On the other hand, the residual risk of HIV over the last two years was calculated to be 0.29/106, showing no significant difference. The residual risk in the donors who donated only once was higher than that in the donors who donated more than once during each period. CONCLUSION: The real transfusion-transmitted infection can be different from the estimated residual risk in this study because this study was based on the thesis that all NAT-reactive blood components cause infection. Because the residual risk of HBV is higher than HCV and HIV, it was considered that the safety measures for the HBV need to be improved continuously.
Blood Safety ; Hand ; HIV ; Humans ; Korea ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: To improve the quality of the statistical analysis of papers published in the Journal of the Korean Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (JKOSTRO) by evaluating commonly encountered errors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Papers published in the JKOSTRO from January 2006 to December 2007 were reviewed for methodological and statistical validity using a modified version of Ahn's checklist. A statistician reviewed individual papers and evaluated the list items in the checklist for each paper. To avoid the potential assessment error by the statistician who lacks expertise in the field of radiation oncology; the editorial board of the JKOSTRO reviewed each checklist for individual articles. A frequency analysis of the list items was performed using SAS (version 9.0, SAS Institute, NC, USA) software. RESULTS: A total of 73 papers including 5 case reports and 68 original articles were reviewed. Inferential statistics was used in 46 papers. The most commonly adopted statistical methodology was a survival analysis (58.7%). Only 19% of papers were free of statistical errors. Errors of omission were encountered in 34 (50.0%) papers. Errors of commission were encountered in 35 (51.5%) papers. Twenty-one papers (30.9%) had both errors of omission and commission. CONCLUSION: A variety of statistical errors were encountered in papers published in the JKOSTRO. The current study suggests that a more thorough review of the statistical analysis is needed for manuscripts submitted in the JKOSTRO.