Background: Complete blood count (CBC) and reticulocyte (Retics) are routine hematology tests useful for the\ndifferential diagnosis of anemia and other medical conditions. However, it has been presumed that they are not\nused as regular as they should be in medical practice in Addis Ababa hospitals.\nMethods: A hospital-based cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted during November-December 2010,\nin which 408 clinicians participated and their response on the use of CBC and Retics was assessed. The always/\nfrequently (A/F) response was considered to reflect routine use of the CBC/Retics parameters by the clinicians. The\nChi square test was used to study statistical associations among different variables.\nResult: Only four of 13 parameters in CBC were frequently or always used by more than 85% of the clinicians.\nHealth Officers were observed to use 12 of the 13 CBC parameters less than the other professional group; interns\nand residents demonstrated highest use of CBC results. More than a third of cliniciansââ?¬â?¢ preferred white blood cell\n(WBC) differential report in percentages than the more useful absolute number report. Reticulocyte parameters\nwere not being used by majority of clinicians in patient management. Clinicians rated ââ?¬Ë?averageââ?¬â?¢ regarding the\nadequacy of clinical laboratory methods course they took during medical education. As service users, clinicians\nindicated mm3 as unit of preference in cell count on the laboratory report form.\nConclusion: Overall, most clinicians do not use much of the data provided on routine CBC report. Additional\nresearch is needed to understand the issue further. Responsible bodies should promote the appropriate use of\nCBC/Retics reports by clinicians.
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