Enhancing voluntary blood donations: King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital experience with mobile donation campaign

Blood donation is crucial for healthcare systems worldwide, ensuring the availability of blood and its products for patients in need. Many regions struggle to maintain adequate blood supplies due to reliance on patient-related donations, leading to shortages and logistical challenges. Increasing voluntary, non-remunerated blood donations (VNRBD) is pivotal for a stable blood supply. Mobile blood donation campaigns have shown promise in enhancing voluntary donation rates by providing convenient opportunities for potential donors. This study aimed to evaluate donor satisfaction levels and compare experiences between first-time and repeat donors in a mobile blood donation campaign conducted at King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital (KFAFH) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 12, 2023, to February 25, 2024, including 384 adult donors. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing multiple aspects of the donation experience. Descriptive statistics were used to report frequencies, percentages, and mean ± standard deviation (SD) for overall satisfaction. Subgroup analyses compared satisfaction levels between repeat and first-time donors, and between male and female participants.

Donors reported high overall satisfaction, with a mean satisfaction score of 4.5 ± 0.5 (Likert scale 1-5). The vast majority of donors (86.5%) were repeat donors, who reported slightly higher satisfaction (4.6 ± 0.5) compared to first-time donors (4.4 ± 0.6). High satisfaction was observed across all aspects of the donation process, including welcome, clarity of pre-donation survey questions, hygiene, and post-donation care. Both male and female donors reported similarly high satisfaction levels.

The findings highlight the effectiveness of mobile blood donation campaigns in enhancing voluntary blood donations, fostering donor loyalty, and reducing dependency on patient-related donors. The campaign successfully provided a positive experience across donor subgroups, supporting donor retention and engagement.