Trends of utilization of Complete Blood Count parameters for patient management among doctors in Azad Kashmir

OBJECTIVE: To determine the trends of utilization of CBC parameters in patient management among doctors in different hospitals in Kashmir, Pakistan. METHODD: A self-administered questionnaire-based survey was carried out amongst doctors working in four hospitals of Kashmir i.e. Combined Military Hospital, Muzaffarabad, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalakot, Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences, Muzaffarabad, and District Hospital, Kotli during August to December 2017. RESULTS: Out of 500 physicians, 217 physicians answered the questionnaire, representing a response rate of 43.4%. Only three of the 11 parameters in the CBC report i.e. hemoglobin, white blood cell count and platelets were selected as frequently or always useful by more than 80% of physicians. Rest of the eight parameters of the CBC were found useful by less than 80% of the physicians. Most agreed that the current format of a CBC report gives adequate information. CONCLUSION: The present study concludes that majority of the physicians utilize only three of the basic parameters on the complete blood count. An educational intervention can be planned for the physicians to increase their knowledge about the utility of other parameters.