Introduction:

Competent performance by the health care personnel in transfusion medicine implies deep knowledge not received during training.

Objective:

Identify elements of competence standardization in transfusion medicine for the specialty of anesthesiology and resuscitation.

Methods:

A cross-sectional educational study was conducted. A document analysis was carried out about standardization of professional competences in Cuba and about the components of competence in transfusion medicine for the specialty. Examination was also performed of transfusion medicine contents and skills in the residency program. Finally, professors from the specialty were interviewed.

Results:

Competence comprises knowledge about risks for the transmission of infections to patients, safe prescription of blood components, identification of transfusion reactions, and performance of and undergraduate training in allogeneic blood transfusion procedures. It implies knowledge and updated awareness of the ethical, scientific and legal aspects involved. It includes demonstrating knowledge, skills and values related to preoperative preparation of patients with anemia, hemorrhagic risk and other hematologic diseases, to use alternatives and save blood components. The professors recognized that training is required at the start of the residency program to ensure the performance of safe transfusion practices.

Conclusions:

Being competent in transfusion medicine, a subdiscipline of the specialty of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation, requires mobilization of a set of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values in a simultaneous, interrelated and timely fashion to transfuse less but better, with greater safety and at a lower cost.

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