Knowledge on Practice of Phlebotomy among Nursing and Biomedical Students in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background: Phlebotomy, the act of drawing blood through venipuncture, is one of the most common procedures conducted in the healthcare facilities. Venipuncture is essential for the diagnosis and treatment for various diseases. Possessing basic knowledge and skills required for blood drawing, using appropriate equipment can help the phlebotomist or nurse reduce the chances of possible mishaps that may occur during the procedure. Objectives: To assess the knowledge of nursing and biomedical students on phlebotomy. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted among 100 nursing and biomedical students at International Institute of Health Sciences, within the age group of 18-35 years in Gampaha district, Sri Lanka. A self-administered questionnaire consisted of 20 close ended questions in English language, was distributed. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results: Out of the 100 participants, 83% of them have stated that the most common vein used for venipuncture is median cubital vein which was the correct response. More than half of the participants have mentioned that 3cc syringe is suitable to draw blood from infants, which should be winged infusion set. Meantime, in a question asked on the steps of preparing a patient before venipuncture, over one-third stated that they should place a finger over the vein to guide the shaft of the exposed needle which is unacceptable due to disinfection protocols. When considering the scores pertaining to knowledge and practice, many students have accurately responded to questions regarding knowledge (83%) than practice (60%), which showed the insufficient practice on phlebotomy. Conclusions: There is a room for improvement in the knowledge on phlebotomy practices of nursing and biomedical students. Organizing workshops and training sessions will be useful for nursing and biomedical students as well as for practicing nurses and phlebotomists.