Academy
Educational course in Transfusion Medicine in Cairo, Egypt
Under the generous financial and moral support of the ISBT Academy, the Egyptian Society of Transfusion Medicine (ESTM) successfully conducted its inaugural educational training course for 36 registered blood bank physicians from across Egypt. The course was organized by Prof. Salwa Youssef, President of ESTM, Prof. Azza Eldanasoury, Secretary General of ESTM and Dr. Bahy Ayoub, Member of Scientific Committee of ESTM.
The primary objective of the course was to provide a comprehensive and balanced educational curriculum encompassing all aspects of transfusion medicine. This aimed to equip junior blood bank physicians with the necessary knowledge for their workplace and to serve as a refresher course for experienced professionals.
Participants were carefully selected from various regions of Egypt to ensure equitable representation and attendance from nearly all governorates. The group comprised a diverse range of physicians, including junior doctors starting their careers in transfusion medicine, students of the Egyptian Board for Transfusion Medicine, university faculty members, National Blood Transfusion Service staff, and hospital blood bank administrators.
The course was divided into four modules, each lasting 4 days per month spanning over four months. The first two days of each module featured oral presentations summarizing a particular discipline with a strong emphasis on both scientific and practical aspects. These lectures were delivered by 25 highly experienced professors renowned for their expertise in the subject matter. The subsequent two days were dedicated to practical sessions, where the 36 delegates were divided into two groups for enhanced engagement and interaction with the practical session operators. Practical sessions were held at the National Blood Transfusion Center and National Cancer Institute Blood Bank.
The first module focused on donation and apheresis, followed by components and serology in the second module. The third module concentrated on immunohematology. The final module, scheduled for October 2024, will focus on blood transfusion at clinical situations. This module will feature presentations primarily given by clinicians from various disciplines who regularly order blood and its components. The goal is to provide a platform for these clinicians to share their perspectives on their needs and explore how these needs can be effectively met within the constraints of existing inventories, standards, and practices.
Following each module, delegates were given the opportunity to evaluate both the topics covered and the performance of the speakers. A specially designed assessment model was employed, assigning a score out of 5 to each question where 5 is Excellent and 1 is Poor and a score of 3 to practical sessions where 3 is Very Satisfactory and 1 is Unsatisfactory. Written comments were also collected to facilitate constructive criticism and identify areas for improvement. The comments provided valuable insights into the participants' perceptions of the course, ranging from concerns about excessive information to requests for more practical training and feedback on the overall engagement level. Effectiveness of the course was also assessed by a short MCQ exam after each module.
The course has been met with positive responses from both the delegates and their colleagues, who have expressed a strong desire for its repetition. Based on its overwhelming success, the ESTM board has decided to offer the course again next year with some modifications. These modifications include offering the course over four consecutive months, increasing the emphasis on practical sessions, replacing 1-2 speakers, and conducting pre- and post-course assessments to objectively measure the course's effectiveness.
