The New Platelet Transfusion Mobile Site – A Bedside Tool to Aid Decision Making

Introduction: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) (UK) has recently seen demand for platelet transfusions (pltTxs) grow by 9% due to a variety of reasons. A proportion of this rise will be due to pltTxs being given outside indicated guidelines. The UKNational Comparative Audit of pltTxs in haematology patients (2010) found that 28% of all pltTxs given were outside national guidelines and 10% of prophylactic pltTxs were double the standard UK dose, and these pltTxs could have been avoided. One factor for pltTxs not being prescribed according to the guidelines could be not having direct access to guidelines and thresholds when writing the instruction to transfuse. 40% of UK adults now own a Smartphone, with the same proportion saying their phone is the most important device for accessing the internet. Tablet ownership has also increased. Clinicians suggested and requested the development of a ‘mobile site’ that could be accessed using a smart phone or tablet computer so that they had access to the information about pltTxs at the bedside. Methods: A search of transfusion ‘Apps’ and ‘mobile sites’ quickly established that there was a gap in the market for a tool that could facilitate the decision to transfuse platelets. NHSBT agreed to fund and build an HTML5 website. The mobile site was piloted by transfusion stakeholders and end users and feedback incorporated. The site now includes information from the national pltTx guidelines, such as pltTx thresholds, when a pltTx is not required (e.g. prior to a bone marrow aspirate and or trephine), alternatives to giving a pltTx, risks of a pltTx, as well as a paediatric pltTx dose calculator. Results: The mobile website is free to access and download (available from: http://goo.gl/pLGtX). The Platelet Transfusion Mobile Site is currently being promoted to end users. Since its launch in Winter 2012, 779 unique visitors have accessed the site with 54% returning to it. Conclusion: The people who manage patients on a daily basis andmake the decision to give a pltTx are not transfusion experts. This ‘mobile site’ provides an opportunity to have expert advice when required.