BackgroundBlood transfusions are one of the most performed medical procedures in the world. Thus, as education in transfusion medicine is vital to medical care, it should aim to promote a responsible practice with the rational use of blood by doctors. This study aims to investigate the situation of the teaching of transfusion medicine in medical schools in Brazil.MethodThe websites of the 249 Brazilian medical schools in operation in June 2015 were visited and the curricula of the medical courses were investigated in respect to the presence or absence of a transfusion medicine discipline. When available, the subject grids were analyzed to verify whether a description of content regarding transfusion medicine was given within other disciplines.ResultsOf the 249 medical school sites visited, information on the curriculum was obtained from 178. Of the medical schools that published their curriculum, 132 (74.1%) did not have disciplines of transfusion medicine or hematology and only seven (3.9%) had a discipline of transfusion medicine in the curricular grid.ConclusionsEducation on transfusion medicine is of fundamental importance for safe and efficient transfusion practices. Deficiencies in medical knowledge of this subject have been found worldwide. The results of this study indicate a possible deficiency in teaching the basics of this specialty. Thus, additional prospective studies to assess the knowledge and practice of transfusion medicine in Brazilian medical schools are warranted, which could prompt a discussion on the importance of offering training in transfusion medicine to medical students.

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BackgroundMedical education has a major social impact because it ultimately influences the quality and safety of the health service offered to the population. Several studies have acknowledged the relationship between medical knowledge on transfusion medicine and the proper use of this therapy. The rational use of blood has become a worldwide concern. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate medical residents’ knowledge on transfusion medicine in hospitals located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and their training during their medical education.MethodsOne hundred and six residents from eight medical specialties of four hospitals participated. A questionnaire developed by the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) group was applied to evaluate the participants’ medical knowledge. Another questionnaire was also applied to evaluate participant profiles regarding frequency of transfusion prescriptions, self-perceived knowledge and relevance of the subject.ResultsThe mean number of correct answers to the questionnaire on knowledge about transfusion practices was 43.5% (range: 15–80%). A relationship between training during medical residency and the obtained result was observed (p-value = 0.0007). Most residents (73%) did not receive training in transfusion medicine during their graduation or residency and 93% would like to receive additional training.ConclusionA clear deficit in the knowledge of transfusion medicine was verified, indicating the need for change in the teaching of this specialty. This result is similar to some developed countries.