Blood transfusion in acute and chronic pediatric settings: beliefs and practices.

BACKGROUND: Blood has been imbued with powerful connotations through history and across cultures. Currently bestowed with scientific meaning, blood nevertheless carries symbolic resonance. This study examines these representations among practitioners and sheds light on the clinical and nonclinical factors that guide blood transfusion (BT) decision-making in Quebec, Canada. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: With a qualitative exploratory study design, data were collected in the pediatric intensive care unit and the hematology-oncology unit of Sainte-Justine Hospital in 2009. A total of fifteen 1-hour-long semistructured interviews were conducted with physicians. RESULTS: Physicians affirm that the symbolic connotations of blood found in the lay population do not influence their transfusion decisions. However, there are other "social" and "cultural' aspects that influence these practices. Also, BT strategies remain diverse across units. Practitioners perceive these situations as resulting from insufficient training and by the existence of an "oral tradition" and a professional culture that are resistant to change. CONCLUSION: BT practices differ within and across units. Many dimensions intervene in the decision to transfuse, from individual clinical appreciation and local unit "culture" to formal and ad hoc training. Consistent change in BT can only occur with the implementation of norms and guidelines that are endorsed by key influential figures. An extensive multicentered study is necessary to better understand how social and cultural factors affect BT practices. This knowledge will sustain an enlightened clinical practice and lead to the recognition that peer practices are also embedded in professional cultures.

Evaluating the perceived utility of an artificial intelligence-powered clinical decision support system for depression treatment using a simulation center.

Aifred is a clinical decision support system (CDSS) that uses artificial intelligence to assist physicians in selecting treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD) by providing probabilities of remission for different treatment options based on patient characteristics. We evaluated the utility of the CDSS as perceived by physicians participating in simulated clinical interactions. Twenty physicians who were either staff or residents in psychiatry or family medicine completed a study in which they had three 10-minute clinical interactions with standardized patients portraying mild, moderate, and severe episodes of MDD. During these scenarios, physicians were given access to the CDSS, which they could use in their treatment decisions. The perceived utility of the CDSS was assessed through self-report questionnaires, scenario observations, and interviews. 60% of physicians perceived the CDSS to be a useful tool in their treatment-selection process, with family physicians perceiving the greatest utility. Moreover, 50% of physicians would use the tool for all patients with depression, with an additional 35% noting that they would reserve the tool for more severe or treatment-resistant patients. Furthermore, clinicians found the tool to be useful in discussing treatment options with patients. The efficacy of this CDSS and its potential to improve treatment outcomes must be further evaluated in clinical trials.