Master Production Scheduling Total Quality Management and Blood production towards Blood Transfusion sustainability in Uganda.

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between master production scheduling, total quality management, blood production, and transfusion sustainability in Ugandan blood banks. It addressed the challenges of blood safety and shortages in healthcare, leading to canceled or postponed transfusions and patient fatalities. The study design used was correlational and cross-sectional in nature with a pragmatic paradigm and a mixed-method strategy. It surveyed seven regional and seven university teaching hospital blood banks, using random and purposive sampling. Data came from self administered questionnaires and interviews with key informants. Data analysis used SPSS20 and AMOS23 to determine relationships among variables. Qualitative data was analyzed using Nvivo software. Pilot tests ensured questionnaire and interview guide validity and reliability. Findings showed a significant model for the relationship between master production scheduling and blood transfusion sustainability. The sustainability of blood transfusions was found to be significantly influenced by both demand and supply factors. However, perishability exhibited a positive relationship with blood transfusion sustainability; this association was not statistically significant. Surprisingly, total quality management did not mediate the master production scheduling and blood transfusion sustainability link; instead, blood production fully mediated it. When considering both total quality management and blood production as serial mediators, a partial mediating role was revealed. Qualitative findings aligned with these results, highlighting various factors used by Ugandan blood banks to enhance sustainability. This study has managerial implications, emphasizing the importance of factors such as advancing master production scheduling, total quality management, and blood production knowledge, allocating and utilizing scarce resources efficiently, training and developing staff, and monitoring inter hospital blood products movement in enhancing transfusion sustainability. Recommendations for policymakers included increase funding and accessibility of blood banks, engaging stakeholders, enforcing blood transfusion regulations, and increasing staff.