Determinants of repeated blood donation among new and experienced blood donors

BACKGROUND: The maintenance of a safe level of blood supply is provided by a small number of volunteers, and their retention is difficult. The aim of this study was to identify factors predicting repeated blood donation among experienced and new donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A random sample of 2,231 donors (2,070 experienced and 161 new) completed a questionnaire assessing psychosocial factors as defined by the most prominent social cognitive theories. Six months later, an objective measure of frequency of registrations to give blood was obtained from the database of the local official agency for blood donation. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis indicated that for experienced donors, the predictors were intention, perceived control, anticipated regret, moral norm, age, and frequency of blood donation in the past. For new donors, intention and age were the only determinants of behavior. Important differences in the determinants of intention were also noted between experienced and new donors. CONCLUSION: In summary, the results of this study support the idea that distinct promotion strategies should be adopted to increase repeated blood donation among experienced versus new donors.     

Number of recent sexual partners among blood donors in Brazil: associations with donor demographics, donation characteristics, and infectious disease markers

BACKGROUND: Brazilian blood centers ask candidate blood donors about the number of sexual partners in the past 12 months. Candidates who report a number over the limit are deferred. We studied the implications of this practice on blood safety. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed demographic characteristics, number of heterosexual partners, and disease marker rates among 689,868 donations from three Brazilian centers between July 2007 and December 2009. Donors were grouped based on maximum number of partners allowed in the past 12 months for each center. Chi‐square and logistic regression analysis were conducted to examine associations between demographic characteristics, number of sex partners, and individual and overall positive markers rates for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T‐lymphotropic virus Types 1 and 2, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and syphilis. RESULTS: First‐time, younger, and more educated donors were associated with a higher number of recent sexual partners, as was male sex in São Paulo and Recife (p < 0.001). Serologic markers for HIV and syphilis and overall were associated with multiple partners in São Paulo and Recife (p < 0.001), but not in Belo Horizonte (p = 0.05, p = 0.94, and p = 0.75, respectively). In logistic regression analysis, number of recent sexual partners was associated with positive serologic markers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.2‐1.5), especially HIV (AOR, 1.9‐4.4). CONCLUSIONS: Number of recent heterosexual partners was associated with HIV positivity and overall rates of serologic markers of sexually transmitted infections. The association was not consistent across centers, making it difficult to define the best cutoff value. These findings suggest the use of recent heterosexual contacts as a potentially important deferral criterion to improve blood safety in Brazil.     

Prevalence of transfusion-transmissible viral infections in first-time US blood donors by donation site

BACKGROUND: Understanding the donor base, infectious disease prevalence, and donation loss at various blood donation sites will help maximize blood collection efforts and blood availability. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Using donation data collected at five US blood centers, the prevalence of HIV, HTLV, HBsAg, and HCV in first-time whole-blood donations at 10 donation sites was evaluated: military, education, religious, professional, industry, services, community, health care, government, and fixed sites. Donation loss from screening test reactivity at each donation site was also evaluated. RESULTS: During the study, 1.2 million first-time whole-blood donations were collected. Military and education sites had a low prevalence of all viral markers, except for HBsAg, which was highest at education sites. Variations in viral marker prevalence among donation sites were partially explained by donor demographic differences. Donation loss varied by donation site, ranging from 3.3 percent at education sites to 6.4 percent at industry sites, indicating differential efficiency of blood collection efforts. CONCLUSION: Different rates of positive viral test results and donation loss in first-time whole-blood donors were observed at various types of donation sites. This information may be useful in estimating the yield of usable units from specific blood drives and in allocating resources to meet blood center collection goals.     

Seroprevalence of SARS-Coronavirus 2 among asymptomatic healthy blood donors from healthcare and non-healthcare settings: Implications for safety of blood donors and blood collection staff during blood donation

IntroductionSARS-Coronavirus-2 pandemic has adversely affected blood supply as potential blood donors were afraid of acquiring infection in hospital settings. We aimed to compare COVID-19 seroprevalence among asymptomatic blood donors from healthcare and non-healthcare setting to analyse the difference in exposure level of each group as well as the risk of acquiring infection during the process of blood donation.Material and MethodsAnalysis of whole blood donors tested for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies was carried out after categorizing them into healthcare workers (HCW) and non-healthcare workers (NHCW). NHCW were further categorized into residents of containment and non-containment zones and seroprevalence analyzed. Seroprevalence among different ABO blood groups was also analyzed.Results1191 blood donors were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with 9.5 % seropositivity. Significantly lower seropositivity of 3.2 % (p < 0.001) was observed among HCW as compared to 10.9 % seropositivity in NHCW. Among NHCW no difference in seropositivity was observed based on residence in containment or non-containment zone. Significantly higher (p = 0.012) seroprevalence was observed among A blood group donors (12.5 %) as compared to O blood group donors (6.8 %).ConclusionResults suggests that a blood donor, in a hospital setting is less likely to be exposed to COVID-19 disease than when participating in activities of daily living. It is postulated that the lower seroprevalence among HCW as compared to NHCW reflects differences in knowledge and practice of preventive measures among these groups. The findings should instil confidence among blood donors and motivate them to donate blood without fear.     

Motivating factors and deterrents for blood donation among donors at a university campus-based collection center

BACKGROUND: Insight into motivating factors and barriers for blood donation, especially for young people and underrepresented minorities, is important to donor recruitment and retention. We surveyed donors at a new blood collection facility based on a large, ethnically diverse university campus. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Individuals who had donated or attempted to donate at the facility during the first 17 months of its operation were invited by e‐mail to respond to an anonymous, Web‐based questionnaire. Respondents were asked to provide demographic characteristics, rate the importance of various motivating and deterring factors for blood donation, and indicate how they prefer to be contacted by the blood center. RESULTS: More than 30% of the 1619 invitees responded, 95.6% (n = 479) of whom gave complete responses. The respondents were ethnically diverse, and 79.1% were between 18 and 28 years of age. Altruism was by far the most important motivating factor for donation. However, incentives were also rated as important or very important by 72.2% of the respondents. Inconvenience due to time or location constraints was the most important deterrent. E‐mailing was the most preferred contact method and chosen by 80.3% of those surveyed. Some differences were noted in the responses from members of different age, sex, and ethnic groups. CONCLUSION: Although overall altruism and inconvenience were the major motivating factor and deterrent for blood, some demographic differences existed in donor attitude toward incentive programs and preference for the method of contact used by blood centers for recruitment purposes.     

Adverse effects in blood donors after whole-blood donation: a study of 1000 blood donors interviewed 3 weeks after whole-blood donation

BACKGROUND: There are no reports in the transfusion medicine literature that describe adverse reactions and donor arm injuries after whole-blood donation based on solicited information. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The present study solicited adverse reaction and donor arm injury information from 1000 randomly selected whole-blood donors approximately 3 weeks after the whole-blood donation. Two 16-gauge phlebotomy needles in use were also compared. RESULTS: Thirty-six percent of the donors had one or more adverse effects (AEs). The most common systemic AEs were fatigue (7.8%), vasovagal symptoms (5.3%), and nausea and vomiting (1.1%). The most common arm findings were bruise (22.7%), arm soreness (10.0%), and hematoma (1.7%). Men were half as likely as women to have an AE (23% AE vs. 48% AE, p < 0.0001). Repeat blood donors had fewer AEs than first-time blood donors (36% AE vs. 47% AE, p < 0.007), and African-American donors had numbers of AEs similar to those of Caucasian donors (31% AE vs. 38% AE, p = 0.30). The two phlebotomy needles did not differ in causing blood donor AEs. CONCLUSION: AEs after donation and complaints may be more common than previously thought. The postdonation interview is a good tool for defining the blood donor's experience. It can also be used to evaluate and potentially improve blood donor safety and comfort.     

Predicting blood donation intentions and behavior among Australian blood donors: testing an extended theory of planned behavior model

BACKGROUND: Donor retention poses a significant problem to blood collection agencies around the world. Previous research using an augmented theory of planned behavior (TPB) approach has demonstrated that attitude, subjective norm, self-efficacy, moral norm, anticipated regret, donation anxiety from prior blood donations, and self-identity as a blood donor predicts experienced donors' intentions and that intentions, self-efficacy, moral norm, and anticipated regret may impact upon people's actual blood donation behavior.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Established blood donors (n = 263) completed questionnaires assessing standard TPB constructs, anticipated regret, moral norm, donation anxiety, and self-identity as a blood donor. Three months later, a second questionnaire assessing blood donation behavior in the intervening 3 months was mailed and returned by 182 donors.
RESULTS: With structural equation modeling, the final augmented TPB model provided an excellent fit to the data and included a direct path from intention to behavior and indirect paths to behavior through intention for attitude, self-efficacy, and anticipated regret. Moral norm, donation anxiety, and donor identity indirectly predicted intention through attitude. In total, 51 percent of the variance in donors' attitudes, 86 percent of variance in donors' intentions, and 70 percent of the variance in donors' behavior were accounted for in the final model.
CONCLUSION: An augmented TPB framework proved efficacious in determining the predictors of the intentions and behavior of established blood donors. Further, this framework highlighted the importance of considering in the future how donors' motivations for donating blood may evolve as a function of the number of prior donations.     

影响公民自愿无偿献血的因素调查分析

目的了解影响公民无偿献血的各种因素以及公民决定献血的重点因素,以制定有针对性的招募策略。方法依照知、信、行(KAP)理论设计调查表,对成都市2385名献血与未献血的公民做现场问卷调查,通过对其无偿献血的知识、态度、行为的研究来做相关分析。结果①对无偿献血的认知:成都地区公民对我国实行无偿献血制度的知晓率较高(87.5%),但对无偿献血常识和危险行为方式总的知晓率较低(分别为29.4%、32.5%),其中献血者(1349名)对无偿献血常识和危险行为方式总的知晓率(分别为33.4%、38.1%)均高于未献血者(1036名)(分别为24.2%、25.1%)(P<0.05);文化程度越低,对献血常识和危险行为的知晓率越低,职业分布以医生的知晓率最高,农民的最低。②了解渠道:献血者通过人际传播的渠道了解的比例高于未献血者(P<0.05)。③献血动机:未献血者、初次献血者和重复献血者愿意献血的主要原因是“献爱心”,但献血动机比较多样,街头献血的行为受各种环境因素的影响;“人道主义”、“同伴招募”和“健康检查”是促使公民初次献血的因素,而影响初次献血的重点因素是“便利和勇气”;再次献血的公民主要是“献爱心、没什么特别原因和享受用血优惠”。④关注信息:未献血者如果打算献血,最希望了解的依次为“献血后是否影响身体”、“是否会感染疾病”、“血液相关知识”、“相关疾病知识”、“献血后优惠”、“献血时间地点”和“其他“。⑤对待献血的态度和行为:认为献血不影响身体的公民占73.5%,献血者(76.3%)的比例高于未献血者(70%)(P<0.05);献血者愿意继续献血的占93.3%,重复献血者(97.1%)高于初次献血者(91.1%)(P<0.05);77.3%的献血者表示“如有危险行为时选择放弃献血”。结论动机、认知、态度、个性及职业与文化程度等自身因素,献血法律法规、献血宣传方式、献血服务过程等环境因素亦都会影响公民献血。献血者招募的策略,首先应研究不同人群对献血不同的需求,采取针对性的措施,促使公民献血;其次,应为献血者提供安全、舒适和方便的服务。     

Analysis and clinical significance of peripheral blood routine changes of platelet donors with ultra-high frequency donation

BackgroundIncreasing platelet donation frequency has become an important way to meet the growing clinical platelet need. Accordingly, the problem of whether the increase in platelet donation times will have an adverse effect on the health of donors has attracted more and more attention, and become an important factor affecting the donor enthusiasm and the safety of blood collection and supply.MethodsEleven ultra-high frequency platelet donors who donated more than or equal to 20 times in 2021 were selected, and the main peripheral blood routine indicators of hemoglobin, platelet and hematocrit were analyzed.ResultsThe above indicators of all donors fluctuated with the increase of donation times. Among them, older donors (≥50 years old) exhibited a significant downward trend in the above three indicators, and one young donor showed a downward trend in hemoglobin and hematocrit indicators. While the other donors showed the relatively stable performance of the above indicators.ConclusionThe effect of ultra-high frequency platelet donation on the main peripheral blood indexes of donors shows obvious age compliance, that is, the potential harm to ultra-high frequency donors older than 50 years is significantly greater than that of donors of other ages. Older platelet donors should be cautious about ultra-high frequency donations to avoid adverse health hazards. Meanwhile, the work will provide technical reference for the more scientific and efficient development of the platelet harvesting work and the establishment of the clinical blood supply system for related patients.     

Blood donors and factors impacting the blood donation decision

The aging of the US population and the evidence that only about 5% of individuals in the United States donate blood each year raise concerns about the assurance of an adequate, safe supply of blood in the future. Blood donation decision making has been investigated worldwide for decades to understand the process better to increase donation efficiency, safety, retention, collection numbers, and diversity of the donor pool. This review focuses on the characteristics of allogeneic blood donors, the motivational sources in donor decision making, and the research concepts and techniques used to examine these factors. Some historic studies considered pivotal, as well as more recent surveys, may not be pertinent to or representative of the current national donor pool. Interpretation of data related to donor characteristics should examine whether demographics mirror the donor pool to assist in targeted recruitment or if targeted recruitment actually leads to the reported demographics. Few recent studies of donor motivation have been published. Modern sources of positive and negative motivation are worth exploring through scientifically sound investigations involving representative cohorts using multifactorial approaches. Strategies that focus on retaining return donors and transforming first-time donors into repeaters would be beneficial. Investigations are needed also to assess research questions and to develop well-designed interventions to test hypotheses and to produce generalizable findings applicable to future donor decision making.     

论献血者在献血过程中的心理问题

对献血者在献血过程中不同阶段出现的不同心理反应,有针对性地实施心理护理干预,可以有效减少或避免献血反应的发生,保证了献血过程的顺利进行,促进了无偿献血队伍的保留和发展.     

The effects of a phone call prompt on subsequent blood donation among first-time donors

BACKGROUND: A strategy used by blood centers to retain donors is to place phone call reminders. However, among first‐time donors, no studies have tested the effect of this strategy. This was the aim of this study among individuals who had recently given their first lifetime blood donation. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A quasi‐experimental study using a nonequivalent control group was adopted; participants in the control group were donors with blood types B+ and AB+, since these individuals are not phoned by the blood agency. A total of 1604 first‐time donors aged 18 to 70 years from the province of Quebec, Canada, were assigned to the experimental (n = 870) or the control (n = 734) group. Participants in the experimental group were phoned a few days before they had a new opportunity to give blood while those in the control condition were not phoned. RESULTS: In the experimental condition, 48.3% of the donors attempted to give blood during the 12‐month follow‐up period compared to 38.0% in the control condition. The hazards of the first blood donation attempt among donors who were phoned were 32% higher compared to the hazards of those who were not phoned (p = 0.0004). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that a first phone call reminder about the upcoming opportunity to give blood again has a significant positive effect on return rates among first‐time donors.     

Human T-lymphotropic virus type I among blood donors from Guadeloupe: donation, demographic, and biologic characteristics

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic data on human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in Guadeloupe (French West Indies) are scant. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: From January 1989 to December 1996, 59,426 blood donors were screened by enzyme immunoassay for antibodies to HTLV-I. All repeatedly reactive samples were confirmed by Western blot. Temporal trends in HTLV-I seropositivity rates were examined during the study period. A multivariate analysis of donation, demographic, and biologic characteristics was performed. RESULTS: Of the screened blood donors, 195 were confirmed as seropositive, for an overall prevalence of 0.33 percent (95% CI 0.28-0.38). A marked decrease in overall HTLV-I prevalence with time (from 0.47% in 1989 to 0.13% in 1996) was observed, which can be explained mainly by the decreasing percentage of recruited new donors during the study period. Four independent risk factors for HTLV-I were identified: new donor status (odds ratio [OR] 12.5), female sex (OR 1.7), increasing age (30-39 years: OR, 2.4; 40-49 years: OR, 3.7; >50 years: OR 6.6), and positive antibodies to hepatitis B virus core antigen (OR, 1.7). Selection of specific locations for blood collection was inversely associated with HTLV-I (OR 0.5). CONCLUSION: New donor status, advancing age, female sex, and positivity for hepatitis B virus core antibodies were the major factors associated with HTLV-I infection in Guadeloupe.     

Assessment of motivations for return donation among deferred blood donors. American Red Cross ARCNET Study Group

BACKGROUND: The recent addition of a computerized donor deferral registry to American Red Cross blood donation procedures has enabled blood center staffs to identify, before donation, persons who attempt to donate despite previous deferral. The current study investigated reasons that deferred donors return to donate, despite having been notified that they are ineligible. STUDY DESIGN AND METHOD: Anonymous mail surveys requesting demographic information, details of last donation or attempted donation, and assessments of incentives for donating were sent to 311 donors presenting inappropriately at blood drives and 849 matched controls in three American Red Cross regions between April and July 1996. RESULTS: Responses were received from a total of 113 deferred donors and 388 matched controls. Analysis of the 49 permanently deferred donors indicated that they were more likely than controls to donate blood to receive test results or to be awarded community service credit. Responses also revealed that some deferred donors may return to donate blood because of a misunderstanding of the deferral message or erroneous recruitment by blood center staff. CONCLUSION: There is a need before donation for the provision of educational materials regarding the window period of infection and for careful consideration of the use of incentives to attract donors to blood centers. It is also important to provide to donors a clear and consistent message regarding their test results and deferral status.