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Hughes SD, France CL, West-Mitchell KA, Pina T, McElfresh D, Sayers M, Bryant BJ. Advancing Understandings of Blood Donation Motivation and Behavior. Transfus Med Rev 2023; 37:150780. [PMID: 37996288 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmrv.2023.150780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
In this review, we provide critical analysis of social science research into blood donation motivation and behavior. We first share an understanding of the existing literature and recommendations for future research collectively developed by members of the Working Group on Blood Donors and the Supply: Diversifying while Maintaining the Donor Pool, Donor Selection, and Optimizing Blood Availability and Safety, as part of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's 2022 State of the Science in Transfusion Medicine symposium. Then, rather than aim for a comprehensive treatment, we review 4 newer manuscripts that exemplify aspects of the group's recommendations and report results from countries where the blood supply is based on voluntary, nonremunerated donations. From the substantial existing literature, we selected: (1) a study that employed motivational interviewing techniques, thematic analysis, and surveys to link donation motivations and barriers reported by diverse young donors in the United States to actual donation behavior over a year of subsequent eligibility; (2) a survey regarding donation motivations and barriers and monetary amounts associated with willingness to participate in whole blood, plasma, or platelet collection; (3) a survey-based assessment of various emotional states reported by donors at 2 time points during donation and the relationship between emotional experience and subsequent vasovagal reactions; and (4) an interpretive discourse analysis of blood collection agency messaging to donors and the public in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We close by noting several challenges posed by the structure of the United States blood system and the current funding environment to conducting rigorous research and translating findings into practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shana D Hughes
- Vitalant Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | | | - Kamille A West-Mitchell
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Theresa Pina
- Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Duncan McElfresh
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; US Department of Veterans Affairs, Program Evaluation Resource Center, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Merlyn Sayers
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Carter BloodCare, Bedford, TX, USA
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2
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McMahon A, Kaptoge S, Walker M, Mehenny S, Gilchrist PT, Sambrook J, Akhtar N, Sweeting M, Wood AM, Stirrups K, Chung R, Fahle S, Johnson E, Cullen D, Godfrey R, Duthie S, Allen L, Harvey P, Berkson M, Allen E, Watkins NA, Bradley JR, Kingston N, Miflin G, Armitage J, Roberts DJ, Danesh J, Di Angelantonio E. Evaluation of interventions to prevent vasovagal reactions among whole blood donors: rationale and design of a large cluster randomised trial. Trials 2023; 24:512. [PMID: 37563721 PMCID: PMC10413586 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07473-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vasovagal reactions (VVRs) are the most common acute complications of blood donation. Responsible for substantial morbidity, they also reduce the likelihood of repeated donations and are disruptive and costly for blood services. Although blood establishments worldwide have adopted different strategies to prevent VVRs (including water loading and applied muscle tension [AMT]), robust evidence is limited. The Strategies to Improve Donor Experiences (STRIDES) trial aims to reliably assess the impact of four different interventions to prevent VVRs among blood donors. METHODS STRIDES is a cluster-randomised cross-over/stepped-wedge factorial trial of four interventions to reduce VVRs involving about 1.4 million whole blood donors enrolled from all 73 blood donation sites (mobile teams and donor centres) of National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) in England. Each site ("cluster") has been randomly allocated to receive one or more interventions during a 36-month period, using principles of cross-over, stepped-wedge and factorial trial design to assign the sequence of interventions. Each of the four interventions is compared to NHSBT's current practices: (i) 500-ml isotonic drink before donation (vs current 500-ml plain water); (ii) 3-min rest on donation chair after donation (vs current 2 min); (iii) new modified AMT (vs current practice of AMT); and (iv) psychosocial intervention using preparatory materials (vs current practice of nothing). The primary outcome is the number of in-session VVRs with loss of consciousness (i.e. episodes involving loss of consciousness of any duration, with or without additional complications). Secondary outcomes include all in-session VVRs (i.e. with and without loss of consciousness), all delayed VVRs (i.e. those occurring after leaving the venue) and any in-session non-VVR adverse events or reactions. DISCUSSION The STRIDES trial should yield novel information about interventions, singly and in combination, for the prevention of VVRs, with the aim of generating policy-shaping evidence to help inform blood services to improve donor health, donor experience, and service efficiency. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN: 10412338. Registration date: October 24, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy McMahon
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Stephen Kaptoge
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthew Walker
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Susan Mehenny
- NHS Blood & Transplant, Blood Donation, Barnsley, UK
| | - Philippe T Gilchrist
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jennifer Sambrook
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research BioResource, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Michael Sweeting
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Angela M Wood
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge Centre of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kathleen Stirrups
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research BioResource, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ryan Chung
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sarah Fahle
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elisha Johnson
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Donna Cullen
- NHS Blood & Transplant, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Shannon Duthie
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Paul Harvey
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael Berkson
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elizabeth Allen
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicholas A Watkins
- Data, Analytics and Surveillance, UK Health Security Agency, Nobel House, London, UK
| | - John R Bradley
- National Institute for Health and Care Research BioResource, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nathalie Kingston
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research BioResource, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Jane Armitage
- MRC Population Health Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David J Roberts
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- NHS Blood & Transplant, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
- Radcliffe Dept of Medicine and BRC Haematology Theme, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - John Danesh
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Human Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Emanuele Di Angelantonio
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Health Data Science Centre, Human Technopole, Milan, 20157, Italy
- NHS Blood and Transplant, Cambridge, UK
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4
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France CR, France JL, Himawan LK. What would it take to convince you to donate? A survey study of the relationship between motivators, barriers, and payment for whole blood, plasma, and platelet donation. Transfusion 2022; 62:1251-1260. [PMID: 35467768 PMCID: PMC9322277 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background With growing discussion about blood donor remuneration, the present study examined the level of payment that may be required to convince individuals to engage in whole blood, plasma, and platelet donations. Study Design and Methods Anonymous online surveys were completed by a college sample [n = 490; 76.9% female; Mean Age = 20.3 (SD = 4.9) years; 32.9% whole blood donors] and a ResearchMatch sample [n = 323; 70.6% female; Mean Age = 50.7 (SD = 16.6) years; 82.7% whole blood donors]. Level of payment needed to motivate whole blood, plasma, and platelet donation was examined as a function of donation history, sample, and gender. In addition, path analyses examined associations between donation motivators, barriers, and payment level. Results Across all types of donation, history of whole blood donation was related to a greater willingness to donate without payment. At the same time, however, sizeable portions of prior donors indicated that monetary payment would convince them to donate whole blood (24%), plasma (51%), or platelets (57%). Across all types of donation, donation‐related barriers (i.e., anxiety, fear) were indirectly related to higher payment levels via lower self‐efficacy and more negative donation attitudes. Donation‐related motivators (i.e., warm glow, regret, and altruism) were indirectly related to lower payment levels via higher self‐efficacy and more positive donation attitudes. Conclusion Despite reporting a strong commitment to nonremunerated blood donation, many respondents with and without a history of blood donation indicated that money would convince them to engage in whole blood, plasma, and platelet donation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janis L France
- Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | - Lina K Himawan
- Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
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5
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France CR, France JL, Himawan LK, Duffy L, Kessler DA, Rebosa M, Rehmani S, Frye V, Shaz BH. Fear is associated with attrition of first-time whole blood donors: A longitudinal examination of donor confidence and attitude as potential mediators. Transfusion 2021; 61:3372-3380. [PMID: 34535897 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elevated fear and anxiety regarding donation-related stimuli (e.g., needles, pain, blood, fainting) has been associated with reduced blood donor recruitment and retention. The present longitudinal study tests the notion that this inverse relationship may be accounted for by lower donation confidence and more negative donation attitudes among fearful first-time donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS In a sample of 1479 first-time whole blood donors [67.9% female; mean age = 19.3 (standard deviation (SD) = 2.5) years], path analyses were conducted to examine relationships among donor ratings of fear of blood draw and donation anxiety obtained approximately 1 week after donation, donation confidence and attitudes assessed approximately 6 weeks later, and donation attempts over the 14 months following the original donation. RESULTS Path analyses indicated that both fear of blood draws and donation anxiety were associated with fewer attempted donations, and that these effects were indirectly mediated by a combination of lower donor confidence and more negative donation attitudes. CONCLUSION Because retention of new blood donors is essential to maintain a healthy blood supply, the results of the present study suggest that first-time donors should be assessed for fear and anxiety so that appropriate strategies can be provided to address their concerns, bolster their confidence and attitudes, and ultimately promote their long-term retention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janis L France
- Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | - Lina K Himawan
- Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | - Mark Rebosa
- New York Blood Center, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Victoria Frye
- Department of Community Health and Social Medicine, City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Beth H Shaz
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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6
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Rael CT, Pierre D, Frye V, Kessler D, Duffy L, Malos N, Van Tieu H. Evaluating blood donor experiences and barriers/facilitators to blood donation in the United States using YouTube video content. Transfusion 2021; 61:2650-2657. [PMID: 34196004 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding donor perception of the blood donation experience is central to maintaining an adequate blood supply. Studies that use questionnaires to assess barriers/facilitators to donation may be influenced by response bias. To address this, we conducted an innovative study integrating quantitative informatic techniques with qualitative data analysis of YouTube video content to explore donor experiences and barriers and facilitators to whole blood donation. METHODS Sampling of YouTube videos was conducted using search parameters for identifying relevant videos, based on donors' language used to describe their whole blood donation experiences (e.g., blood donation, blood donor, donated blood, gave/give blood). We eliminated duplicate videos; filtered out non-English videos, those made outside the United States, and those with no transcripts; and restricted the time period during which videos were posted from 2015 to 2019. Search parameters were fed into a Python script, which downloaded video transcripts for all search results. The final sample was 102 noncommercial and 34 commercial transcripts. The subsequent transcriptions were uploaded into qualitative analysis software and coded two coders. A third coder randomly selected transcripts to review to ensure consistency. RESULTS Barriers to whole blood donation include having prior negative experiences with donation and donation-related fear. Facilitators included altruism, having a personal connection to donation, donation center incentives, and positive experiences with blood center staff. CONCLUSION Themes identified in this study were similar to those in the existing literature. This suggests that current questionnaires to address barriers/facilitators to donation are unlikely to be meaningfully impacted by response bias.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominique Pierre
- National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA), New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Victoria Frye
- Department of Community Health and Social Medicine, CUNY School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Debra Kessler
- Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Louisa Duffy
- Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nick Malos
- Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hong Van Tieu
- Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, USA
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7
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Gilchrist PT, Thijsen A, Masser BM, France CR, Davison TE. Improving the donation experience and reducing venipuncture pain by addressing fears among whole-blood and plasma donors. Transfusion 2021; 61:2107-2115. [PMID: 33904178 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fear of blood donation is implicated in vasovagal reactions, donor recruitment, and retention. This study examined the extent to which fear among donors is associated with various donor outcomes in an Australian sample, and whether fear can be addressed on-site to reduce adverse reactions and improve the donation experience. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Six hundred and sixty-four donors (age M = 33.4, SD = 12.7; 55% female) participated in a two-center, pragmatic, parallel group, individually randomized controlled trial. Following donor registration and consent, whole-blood (n = 539) and plasma (n = 125) donors were assigned to one of four Conditions: control; fear assessment; fear assessment + brochure; fear assessment + brochure + tailored conversation focused on any self-reported fear and coping strategies. Post-donation questionnaires assessed the donors' experience including positive support, donor self-efficacy, anxiety, fear, venipuncture pain, and vasovagal reactions. RESULTS Fear among donors predicted higher venipuncture pain, post-donation anxiety, and vasovagal reactions and remained significant after controlling for other established predictors (i.e., total estimated blood volume, age, sex, and donation experience). Mediational analyses showed that exposure to brochures (with or without the tailored conversation) was associated with less pain, with this effect mediated by donor perceptions of more positive support. Venipuncture pain was also associated with vasovagal reactions, reduced likelihood of return within 6 months, and less satisfaction with the donation experience. CONCLUSION The current results underline the importance of interventions to address fear among both whole-blood and plasma donors to secure the safety and well-being of donors and the blood supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe T Gilchrist
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia.,Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Amanda Thijsen
- Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Barbara M Masser
- Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Tanya E Davison
- Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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8
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France CR, France JL, Himawan LK, Lux P, McCullough J. Donation related fears predict vasovagal reactions and donor attrition among high school donors. Transfusion 2020; 61:102-107. [PMID: 32997822 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This longitudinal study of high school whole blood donors examined relationships among donation-related fears assessed prior to donation, vasovagal reactions to donation, and the proportion of donors who attempted another donation over the subsequent 60 weeks. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Data regarding vasovagal reactions and attempted donation were obtained from donor records of 530 female and 342 male high school donors who answered questions about five types of fear (ie, of blood draw, needles, seeing blood, feeling pain, or fainting) prior to their index donation. RESULTS Each type of fear was associated with an increased risk of vasovagal reactions (all P < .001) and a smaller percentage of attempted donations was seen among those who reported at least one type of fear (53%) as compared to those who did not report any fear (62.1%); P = .022; β = -0.374, OR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.50-0.94. Path analyses of the relationships among fear, vasovagal reaction, and attempted donation revealed significant indirect effects for each type of fear. Specifically, donors who reported fear were at increased odds of experiencing a vasovagal reaction, which, in turn, was associated with decreased odds of attempting a repeat donation. CONCLUSION Donation-related fears are associated with reduced donor return rates, and this effect is mediated through an increased risk for vasovagal reactions. For both practical and ethical reasons, blood collectors are encouraged to identify and intervene with fearful donors to reduce the likelihood of negative donation-related symptoms and enhance donor retention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janis L France
- Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | - Lina K Himawan
- Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | - Pete Lux
- Blood Services, Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, Davenport, Iowa, USA
| | - Jeannine McCullough
- Blood Services, Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, Davenport, Iowa, USA
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