Related Experiment Videos
Donor attitudes about exporting and importing blood
R J Bowman1, M E Clay, D J Therkelsen
1American Red Cross Blood Service, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Transfusion
|October 6, 1997
Summary
Blood donors are often unaware of blood sharing practices but are willing to donate for other communities, provided local needs are met first. This willingness is high, with few donors deterred by inter-community blood sharing.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Blood Transfusion Medicine
Background:
- Increasing blood movement across US regions and regional collection surpluses necessitate understanding donor attitudes.
- Limited data exists on donor perspectives regarding blood resource sharing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate donor attitudes toward blood resource sharing across different regions of the American Red Cross.
- To assess donor awareness of local blood supply sufficiency and their willingness to share blood resources.
Main Methods:
- Telephone survey of 1000 donors across five American Red Cross Blood Services regions.
- Collected demographic data and donor attitudes on blood sharing and donation.
Main Results:
- Donors exhibit low awareness of local blood supply sufficiency.
- A majority (approx. 75%) find inter-community blood sharing acceptable, contingent on local needs being met.
- Only a small percentage (4%) of donors would reduce donations if their blood was shared externally.
Conclusions:
- Blood donors demonstrate limited knowledge of blood resource sharing mechanisms.
- Donors express a conditional willingness to share blood resources, prioritizing local sufficiency.