[Commitment in plasmapheresis donation: A study of determinants among regular donors in plasmapheresis]

The impact of social media intervention based on functional motivation on repeat blood donation behavior: A prospective randomized controlled trial study

BACKGROUND

Blood plays an irreplaceable role in medical care. Low retention rate among blood donors is the major issue in China. Various functional motivations can encourage blood donors to participate in blood donation. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct research studies on re-donate behavior based on functional motivations. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of social media intervention based on functional motivation, to discover effective intervention methods to improve re-donate rate among nonregular blood donors.

METHODS

In 2022-2023, 726 adults aged 18-55 years were randomized into the intervention or control group. Over 6 months, the intervention group received science popularization via social media. After the follow-up period, re-donate rate and functional motivation were assessed. Statistical analyses included t-test, chi-square test, logistic regression analysis, and analysis of variance.

RESULTS

Five hundred and sixty-eight participants completed the intervention survey. Overall, the repeat blood donation rate in the intervention group (18.1%) was significantly higher than the control group (4.2%) (p < .001). After the intervention, understanding, protection, sensation, and values motivation increased (p < .001). The changes in functional motivations vary across different age groups. In the 18-30 age group, understanding motivation increased (p < .001), while in the 31-45 and 46-55 age groups, protection motivation increased (p < .001). In the groups donating blood 3 time and 4 time, protection motivation increased (p < .05), and in the group donating blood 4 times, the values motivation increased (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Social media intervention based on functional motivation can effectively increase the re-donate rate. Understanding, protection, sensation, and values motivations can directly influence the re-donate behavior.

Determinants of the intention to participate in a programme of plasma donation for fractionation among men who have sex with men

Background and objectives

Several approaches are currently under study to contribute to efforts to allow men who have sex with men (MSM) to donate blood. One of these approaches involves implementing a programme of plasma donation for fractionation, with a quarantine period. The goal of this article is to identify the determinants of intention to participate in the plasma donation programme among MSM in Montreal, Canada.

Materials and methods

Based on the theory of planned behaviour, a questionnaire was developed to measure MSM’s intention to donate plasma and identify influencing factors. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify the determinants of intention to donate plasma.

Results

Respondents’ (N = 933) intention to donate plasma in the next six months was moderate. The multiple linear regression model explained 55% (P < 0·001) of the variation of intention. Intention was predicted by attitudes (β = 0·34, P < 0·001), perceived behavioural control (β = 0·28, P < 0·001), aged under 35 years (β = 0·26, P < 0·001), history of blood donation (β = 0·24, P < 0·001), subjective norm (β = 0·21, P < 0·001), income above $40,000 (β = 0·20, P < 0·001), moral norm (β = 0·18, P < 0·001) and higher level of involvement in various issues LGBTQ+ communities are fighting for (β = 0·09, P < 0·001).

Conclusion

Our analyses show that intention to donate plasma within the proposed programme is associated with personal, social and structural factors, but more strongly predicted by factors related to the theory of planned behaviour. Our results also highlight the importance of involving MSM; community acceptability of the plasma donation programme would probably be higher if MSM felt respected and party to the decisions.

Stepping Stones or Second Class Donors?: a qualitative analysis of gay, bisexual, and queer men's perspectives on plasma donation policy in Canada

Background

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are not eligible to donate blood or plasma in Canada if they have had sex with another man in the last 3 months. This time-based deferment has reduced since 2013; from an initial lifetime ban, to five-years, one-year, and now three-months. Our previous research revealed that gay, bisexual, queer, and other MSM (GBM) supported making blood donation policies gender-neutral and behaviour-based. In this analysis, we explored the willingness of Canadian GBM to donate plasma, even if they were not eligible to donate blood.

Methods

We conducted in-depth interviews with 39 HIV-negative GBM in Vancouver (n = 15), Toronto (n = 13), and Montreal (n = 11), recruited from a large respondent-driven sampling study called Engage. Men received some basic information on plasma donation prior to answering questions. Transcripts were coded in NVivo following inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Many GBM expressed a general willingness to donate plasma if they became eligible; like with whole blood donation, GBM conveyed a strong desire to help others in need. However, this willingness was complicated by the fact that most participants had limited knowledge of plasma donation and were unsure of its medical importance. Participants’ perspectives on a policy that enabled MSM to donate plasma varied, with some viewing this change as a “stepping stone” to a reformed blood donation policy and others regarding it as insufficient and constructing GBM as “second-class” donors. When discussing plasma, many men reflected on the legacy of blood donor policy-related discrimination. Our data reveal a significant plasma policy disjuncture—a gulf between the critical importance of plasma donation from the perspective of Canada’s blood operators and patients and the feelings of many GBM who understood this form of donation as less important.

Conclusions

Plasma donor policies must be considered in relation to MSM blood donation policies to understand how donor eligibility practices are made meaningful by GBM in the context of historical disenfranchisement. Successful establishment of a MSM plasma donor policy will require extensive education, explicit communication of how this new policy contributes to continued/stepwise reform of blood donor policies, and considerable reconciliation with diverse GBM communities.

Determinants of plasma donation: A review of the literature

The major contribution of Human Sciences in the understanding of the whole blood donation behavior has been through the study of individuals' motivations and deterrents to donate. However, if whole blood donation has been very widely studied in the last sixty years, we still know very little about plasma donation in voluntary non-remunerated environments. Yet, the need for plasma-derived products has been strongly increasing for some years, and blood collection agencies have to adapt if they want to meet this demand. This article aims to review the main motivations and deterrents to whole blood donation, and to compare them with those that we already know concerning plasma donation. Current evidence shows similarities between both behaviors, but also differences that indicate a need for further research regarding plasma donation.