HemostasisPerioperative BleedingCardiovascular SurgeryCardiac SurgeryVascular Surgery
Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)
observational study
observational study: Cross-sectional structured survey assessing knowledge-practice alignment in the use of hemostatic agents, combined with retrospective institutional audit of product consumption. No therapeutic or experimental intervention is administered.
Study summary
Hemostatic agents are widely used in cardiac and vascular surgery to support intraoperative bleeding control. Despite their clinical relevance and substantial economic impact, little is known about real-world patterns of use, adherence to evidence-based recommendations, and the alignment between clinicians' perceived knowledge and actual decision-making.
HAEMOVAX is a single-center mixed-methods observational study conducted at IRCCS Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio Hospital, Milan, Italy. The study combines an anonymous survey of cardiovascular surgeons with a retrospective audit of institutional hemostatic agent consumption. The primary objective is to evaluate the appropriateness of hemostatic agent selection using a Knowledge-Practice Alignment Score (KPA-Score) derived from standardized clinical vignettes based on current EACTS and ESA recommendations. Secondary objectives include assessment of usage patterns, barriers to appropriate use, concordance between declared practice and real-world consumption, and opportunities for evidence-based standardization.
Eligibility
Sex
ALL
Min age
18 Years
Max age
—
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Inclusion Criteria:
* Physicians with a surgical role in the Departments of Cardiac Surgery or Vascular Surgery at IRCCS Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio, Milan Including attending surgeons, consultant surgeons, and surgical residents
* Active participation in cardiovascular operative procedures during the study period (or within the preceding 12 months)
* Employment at the study institution at the time of survey administration Willingness to participate and complete the anonymous structured questionnaire
Exclusion Criteria:
* Non-surgical healthcare personnel (e.g., nurses, anesthesiologists, administrative staff, or allied health professionals)
* Surgeons not involved in operative cardiovascular practice during the study period
* External collaborators or visiting surgeons without regular clinical activity at the institution
* Individuals who do not provide informed consent for participation in the anonymous survey
* Questionnaires with missing or incomplete vignette responses preventing calculation of the KPA-Score
Primary outcome measure(s)
Proportion of participants achieving a Knowledge-Practice Alignment Score (KPA-Score) ≥60% — Baseline The Knowledge-Practice Alignment Score (KPA-Score) is a study-defined measure representing the percentage of guideline-concordant responses across five standardized clinical vignettes assessing hemostatic agent selection. Scores range from 0% to 100%, with higher scores indicating greater concordance with current European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) and European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) recommendations. The reported outcome is the percentage of participants achieving a KPA-Score of at least 60%.
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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