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Blood Bank Database Sharing System For Nepal

Preprint · May 2019

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.35661.28645

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 Report
On
Blood Bank Database Sharing System
For
Nepal

Submitted By:
Student Name: SANDESH GURUNG (Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation)
Course: M.Sc.IT (M)
Module: Technology Management
Table of Contents
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Statement of Problem ..................................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Objectives ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2. Literature Review ................................................................................................................................. 4
3. Outcome/Purpose ................................................................................................................................. 5
3.1 What is Blood Bank?...................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Why Blood donation?..................................................................................................................... 5
3.3 What is blood bank database? ...................................................................................................... 6
3.4 Solution ................................................................................................................................................ 7
4. Outputs .................................................................................................................................................. 9
5. Impacts .................................................................................................................................................. 9
5.1 Social Impact .................................................................................................................................. 9
5.2 Technological Impact ................................................................................................................... 10
6. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 10
7. References ........................................................................................................................................... 11

Figure 1: Age profile of Blood Donors ........................................................................................ 2

Figure 2: Blood Bank Database Sharing System (Model) ........................................................... 7
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
Blood is a fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins of a vertebrate animal
carrying nourishment and oxygen to and bringing away waste products from all parts of the body
(Merriam-Webster, 2018). Blood is very important factor of body part without which life is
impossible. Loss of blood can create severe problems in the body as blood supplies and maintains
the functionalities of whole body system. Loss of blood can be the result of injuries or some
accidental issues. People suffer from different kind of diseases or go through different kind of
severe situations like surgery, operations, and accidents which may result them to lack enough
blood to live. Patients going through such situations may need blood while doing major
operations or surgery, while suffering from blood diseases, and several other serious life taking
cases. In such cases, another person having the same blood group of the victim can donate
him/her the blood to save his/her life. Thus, it is clearly understood that giving blood is giving
life. In America, 4.5 million Americans would die each year without lifesaving blood transfusions
(Quora, 2017). Despite of being vital lifesaving process, blood donation has become a low
awareness practice. Based on samples of 1000 people, the blood donation rate is 32.1 donations
in high-income countries, 14.9 donations in upper-middle-income countries, 7.8 donations in
lower-middle-income countries and 4.6 donations in low-income countries (Organization, 2017).
A Study conducted on a total of 177 (73 males and 104 females) in different bachelor level
students (98 business, 42 fashion designer and 37 arts) in Nepal revealed that, knowledge about
blood and blood donation, the students’ average score was 32.01% (TADESSE, 2016). Of the
112.5 million blood donations collected globally, approximately half of these are collected in
high-income countries, home to 19% of the world’s population (World Health Organization,
2017). In spite of many blood donation programs and huge efforts from different organization
worldwide, the availability of blood in many regions are still lacking.

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With the growth of technological ideas and practices, there has been many illuminating
development in every part of the world although our country is lacking such innovations
somehow. The country is introduced with revolutions, modernizations, transformations but is
requiring with utilization. The high-income countries are resources rich thus has advanced
technologies which has helped in growth for in development sectors. Those technologies and
advanced systems has contributed equivalent progress in health sector including blood donation
operations too. In the context of Nepal, the modern technologies are still lacking to raise
development and positive effects in broad sectors. The following project has aimed to provide a
technology management system which can facilitate the donors as well as needy ones in blood
donation. The project urges to design an effective blood-bank database management system
sharable to hospitals and to public. The structure and organization of the system are described in
the other parts of the project.

Figure 1: Age profile of Blood Donors (Source: (World Health Organization, 2017))

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1.2 Statement of Problem
Blood donation in Nepal is not a new thing. There are many organizations volunteering and
facilitating blood donation. Some have proved them as a successful and some are struggling.
Regardless of this, there is something incomplete i.e. Technology Management. The lack of
technology management and other significant factors like knowledge, motivation, illiteracy, low
awareness programs, misconceptions etc. has become the reason behind ineffective availability
blood collection, storage and distribution throughout the area where there is a need of blood.

1.3 Objectives
 Design a computerized blood-bank database sharing management system
 Provide blood availability status of blood bank
 Help to meet emergency and complex needy cases
 Develop the capacity of existing systems
 Promotion of modern approaches
 Use technology management system efficiently and effectively

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2. Literature Review
Youth for Blood is a non-profitable and non-government organization supported by different
groups of volunteers registered under Nepal government and social welfare committee. The
organization allows donors to register in their website, contact for blood needs, also conducts
social awareness campaigns. They are on the process to have their own blood database but
recently they have only the system of contacting them directly for blood (Youth For Blood,
2017). Youth for Blood has made helpful contribution in blood donation program in country but
are lacking a dynamic technology based system which can help the people needing blood and to
those wishing to donate blood effectively. Similarly, a website named Blood Bank Nepal has the
facility of searching blood with regards to blood group and location. In contrast, while going
through different searches it is found that their blood database is non-updated, having only few
records from few districts of Nepal (Blood Bank Nepal, 2014). Thus, their current system is not
effective and doesn’t give the operative output for blood donation. The system should be updated
and sharable in public efficiently so as to have valuable impact in the country. Likewise, Donor
Nepal has records of donors with details but they seemed to be non-updated while going through
real-time study on the case. Also, the system failed to display the actual results searching for
(Donor Nepal, n.d.). There are many other similar organizations or systems trying to provide
blood facilities to needy ones but are being unsuccessful because of the factors such as low
awareness programs, negative rumors regarding blood donation, motivational campaigns,
outdated systems, unsuitable blood management systems etc.

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3. Outcome/Purpose
3.1 What is Blood Bank?
Blood bank is a place where blood is collected from donors, typed, separated into components,
stored, and prepared for transfusion to recipients (MedicineNet.com, 2016). When there is a need
of blood, the first place to seek out is a blood bank. Typically, each donated unit of blood (whole
blood) is separated into multiple components, such as red blood cells, plasma and platelets
(MedicineNet.com, 2016). Red blood cells may be stored under refrigeration for a maximum of
42 days, or they may be frozen for up to 10 years (MedicineNet.com, 2016). Red cells carry
oxygen and are used to treat anemia and Platelets are important in the control of bleeding,
generally used in patients with leukemia and other forms of cancer which are stored at room
temperature and may be kept for a maximum of five days (MedicineNet.com, 2016).

3.2 Why Blood donation?

The need of blood may arise anytime and anywhere. The unavailability of blood at the time
causes to death of patients i.e. shortage of blood products means that someone may not get
prompt, adequate care. The modern medical care, including surgery and medical treatment for
many diseases, is not possible without the use of blood products (SPENCER S. ECCLES
HEALTH SCIENCE LIBRARY, 2015). According to the American Journal of Epidemiology,"
it was found that blood donors are 88% less likely to suffer a heart attack than those who do not
donate (Muharib F. Alruwaili, 2015). Donating blood frequently is related to reducing the chance
of getting some cancers, such as liver, lung, colon, stomach and throat cancers (Gustaf Edgren,
2008).

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Here are some facts of Blood and Blood Donation proving the importance of blood donation.
1. Every three seconds someone needs blood (BNL Blood Drive, 2014)
2. One out of every 10 people entering a hospital needs blood (BNL Blood Drive, 2014)
3. Just one pint of donated blood can help save as many as three people's lives (BNL
Blood Drive, 2014)
4. The average adult has 10 pints of blood in his or her body (BNL Blood Drive, 2014)
5. Blood centers often run short of type O and B blood (BNL Blood Drive, 2014)
6. Shortages of all types of blood occur during the summer and winter holidays (BNL
Blood Drive, 2014)
7. If all blood donors gave 2 to 4 times a year, it would help prevent blood shortages (BNL
Blood Drive, 2014)
8. Giving blood will not decrease your strength (BNL Blood Drive, 2014)
9. You cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood (BNL Blood
Drive, 2014)
10. One unit of blood can be separated into several components (red blood cells, white
blood cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate) (BNL Blood Drive, 2014)
11. Anyone who is in good health, is at least 16 years old, and weighs at least 110 pounds
may donate blood every 56 days (BNL Blood Drive, 2014)

3.3 What is blood bank database?

Blood bank database is a computer system that stores organized records of the bloods available
in the blood bank. The database has the functionality of searching for blood, add new blood
records, and remove blood records. Lack of proper managed blood database and non-accessible
database management system can lead to the inadequate facilities for patients. So, the blood bank
database must be sharable and available for the third party users such as hospital management
system, other blood banks, and public users. This way, the unresolved problem relating blood
availability in time can be fixed powerfully.

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3.4 Solution
Most of the blood banks work in isolation, are not integrated with other blood banks and hospitals
which affects in the delivery of bloods in the place where wanted. The efforts and practices from
different social media, mobile application, and advertisements has become a part of helpful way
in blood donation and delivery of bloods. Despite that, a proper managed system still lacks to
effectively provide blood to needy people and patients. The technology or the management
system introduced in this project helps to solve such problem efficiently. The system has the
capability to exchange blood banks’ database with hospitals or hospital management system
helping to provide fast track service for patient needing blood. The system is further discussed
below in detail.

Figure 2: Blood Bank Database Sharing System (Model)

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The above figure shows the design of blood bank database sharing system designed for the
proposed project. The blood bank database is sharable with hospital management systems
through WAN or cloud in multicast connection. Also, the third party users accessing via cloud
to hospital management system plays a vital role in contributing their role to make blood donation
operation more effective by the capabilities of sharing the posts, status and news over social
media and in community covering wide area. The third party users can give very helpful
contribution and alternative solution in the case of blood shortage from blood banks. The
management system is well organized, designed in a way to provide help and input efforts for
blood facility to every possible patients who are in need of blood. Deployment of the system can
bring great changes in this sector as well as comprising in government aspects. The functions of
the management system can be listed as:
 The main Blood Bank Database Management System can be accessed from Hospital
Management System (HMS) online.
 Multiple HMS can access the blood bank database at a time.
 The blood bank database can be accessed via cloud.
 HMS can be accessed by third party users or tools (normal internet surfing
users/facebook).
 Blood bank database data are synched with HMS.
 The third party users can share the availability and requests for blood post in social media,
helping to make the mission more effective.

The working mechanism of the system can be illustrates as:

1. If the case of blood need occurs in the hospital, the hospital management system access
to blood bank database and make a request to check the blood availability in blood bank.
2. The blood bank database management system check the blood availability and response
to the request from hospital management system.
3. If the requested blood is available, blood bank response and ask for the reservation of the
blood.
4. Once the hospital confirms for the reservation, blood bank reserves the requested blood.
5. If the requested blood is not available, the blood bank response with “not available”
message.

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The communication between blood bank and hospitals helps the service to be quick responsive.
This way, the system fulfils the problem from the existing scenario of searching for the blood
and unsuccessful stories of finding blood saving time and efforts. The model was designed on
the basis of comparison, profound analysis and worthy reasons linked to insufficient existing
systems and trends.

4. Outputs
Deployment of proposed project’s technological model of sharing blood bank database
management system would assure to make blood available for needy patient in time, more
effective than existing system. As the blood bank database and hospital management system, also
the third party users would be connected with each other, they can share the data in between,
make the updates and create a circular collaboration in blood availability operation. In the context
of less efforts from government sites, the system can presents itself as a valuable facilitated
model.

5. Impacts
The technology or the system introduced in this project will efficiently help out those who are in
need, who are willing to help, who are willing to share, and who have their serious dedication in
donating blood. In addition, the system helps out to share the ideas, voluntary blood donation
campaigns and spread awareness among the people through third party users strengthening the
blood availability throughout the country.

5.1 Social Impact

The system introduced in the project have positive advantages or well-being goals in the
community. The system provides the facility to share news, awareness programs, and events in
a community helping to make blood donation campaign powerful and quick response on blood
availability operations. Thus, the introduced system implies positive influences and significant
shifts in the challenging society.

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5.2 Technological Impact
The blood bank database sharing management system is designed based on the technology
management perspective. The well networked system has organized structure which implies
modern technology and concepts to make the system resourceful. The system not only improves
the existing concepts but introduce the new technical concepts being in the same scenario. The
system can be accessed via Wide Area Network (WAN) and also being in the cloud
infrastructure. The system can be shared by social media users promoting the system and helping
to reach out the huge mass which adds more advantage relating blood availability operation.

6. Conclusion
In conclusion, the project has become successful to design an organized model based on modern
technology management for the communication between blood bank database management
system and hospital management systems which can have positive contributions to overcome the
problems of finding blood in time. In addition, the projected system believe to improve blood
donation operations throughout the country by quick response time operations carried out by the
system. Also, from the clear view and study on current situation of the country on blood donation
operations and patients’ cases of losing life due to the lack of proper management in blood
operations, the following developed system architecture in this paper believe to bring positive
vibrations in the community.

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 7. References
Blood Bank Nepal, 2014. Blood Bank Nepal. [Online]
Available at: http://www.bloodbanknepal.com/Default.aspx
[Accessed 13 April 2018].
BNL Blood Drive, 2014. 56 Facts About Blood and Blood Donation. [Online]
Available at: https://www.bnl.gov/hr/blooddrive/56facts.asp
[Accessed 02 May 2018].
Donor Nepal, n.d. Donor Nepal. [Online]
Available at: https://www.donornepal.com/
[Accessed 14 April 2018].
Gustaf Edgren, M. R. ,. H. H. ,. T. N. T. ,. K. R. ,. J. A. ,., 2008. Donation Frequency, Iron
Loss, and Risk of Cancer Among Blood Donors. 16 April, 100(8), pp. 572-579.
MedicineNet.com, 2016. Medical Definition of Blood bank. [Online]
Available at: https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=13184
[Accessed 02 May 2018].
Merriam-Webster, 2018. Blood. [Online]
Available at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blood
[Accessed 13 April 2018].
Muharib F. Alruwaili, M. D., 2015. The Benefits of Donating Blood, s.l.: researchgate.net.
Organization, W. H., 2017. Blood safety and availability. [Online]
Available at: http://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blood-safety-and-availability
[Accessed 07 May 2018].
Quora, 2017. How many people a year die because the hospital ran out of blood or blood
substitutes?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.quora.com/How-many-people-a-year-die-because-the-hospital-ran-
out-of-blood-or-blood-substitutes
[Accessed 02 April 2018].
SPENCER S. ECCLES HEALTH SCIENCE LIBRARY, U. O. U., 2015. Blood Banking.
[Online]
Available at: https://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/TUTORIAL/BLDBANK/BLDBANK.html
[Accessed 09 May 2018].
TADESSE, W., 2016. ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, PRACTICE AND
ASSOCIATED FACTORS TOWARDS VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONATION AMONG REGULAR
HEALTH SCIENCE STUDENTS OF SAMARA UNIVERSITY, AFAR, NORTH EAST
ETHIOPIA, 2016, s.l.: s.n.

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 World Health Organization, 2017. Blood safety and availability. [Online]
Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs279/en/
[Accessed 13 April 2018].
Youth For Blood, 2017. Youth For Blood. [Online]
Available at: http://youthforblood.org/introduction/
[Accessed 13 April 2018].

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