Effectiveness of implementation of sickle cell disease referral guidelines and other measures in paediatric department at a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive genetic blood disorder. It affects up to 2.6% of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia population.

Local problem

The paediatric haematology/oncology (PHO) team noticed that 75% of paediatric patients were inappropriately referred to the PHO department. Also, 86% of patients were investigated with unnecessary investigations followed by outpatient haematological clinic visits which cause financial burden to the hospital, job load for medical staff and psychological burden for families.

Methods and interventions

We carried out an initial audit of PHO referrals and requested laboratory tests over a 3-month period (October-December 2022). The PHO team developed a Clinical Pathway Guidelines (CPG), algorithm for early SCD

SUBMITTER: Alathaibi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11751959 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature