Blood donation criteria in Australia: Population knowledge, misperceptions, and impact on donation intent

Misperceptions about blood donation eligibility can deter individuals from donating. In Australia, misperceptions of one's eligibility status may be exacerbated by recent changes to donor criteria. However, public knowledge of these criteria remains underexplored.

This study examines the accuracy of perceived eligibility and knowledge of blood donation criteria using data from a nationally representative survey of the Australian population.

Among the 5178 respondents, knowledge of blood donation criteria was limited, with 29.4% of non-donors unaware of their existence. Of the 57.3% classified as eligible for blood donation at the time of survey completion, 12.4% incorrectly believed they were ineligible and 13.3% did not know their status. Among those classified as ineligible, 55.8% misjudged their status; 36.6% mistakenly believed they were eligible, while 19.2% were uncertain. Those who believed they were eligible were most likely to intend to donate in the next 6 months (35.1%). Overall, knowledge of deferral periods relating to common exclusion factors was poor.

This study indicates a substantial lack of awareness of blood donation criteria and highlights widespread misperceptions and poor knowledge of the criteria in Australia. While most eligible individuals correctly recognized their eligibility, many others may be unnecessarily self-deferring due to the mistaken belief that they are ineligible. Blood collection agencies should design tailored communication strategies to ensure that eligible individuals are aware of their eligibility, and those who are ineligible understand their status and are informed about when they might become eligible to donate.