The informed consent process in whole blood donation

Area of Science:

• Transfusion Medicine
• Public Health
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• Informed consent in transfusion medicine is under-researched.
• Comprehension of risks by whole blood donors is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the adequacy of the informed consent process for whole blood donation.
• To identify specific areas of donor risk comprehension.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire assessed donor demographics, opinions on information, and risk/eligibility knowledge.
• Data collected from 849 whole blood donors at various donation sites.

Main Results:

• Donors comprehended an average of 73.5% of surveyed risks and eligibility criteria.
• Awareness was highest for AIDS eligibility and dizziness risk; lowest for physician referral and West Nile virus testing.
• Younger and female donors showed higher comprehension levels.

Conclusions:

• Whole blood donors often lack full comprehension of donation risks, despite believing they gave informed consent.
• Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding physician referrals and West Nile virus testing.
• Repetitive, multi-format information delivery can enhance donor comprehension and the informed consent process.