Blood Donor Incentives across 63 Countries: The BEST Collaborative Study

Graf, Caroline; Oteng-Attakorac, Krystal; Ferguson, Eamonn; Vassalloe, Ralph; Merz, Eva-Maria

Abstract

Incentives for blood donors are a much-debated strategy intended to ensure a sufficient supply of blood. Yet, there is a fundamental lack of knowledge about which incentives are offered by different blood collectors. We provide a comprehensive description of incentive policies for whole blood donors across 63 countries and 50 states of the United States. We collected data on incentive policies by conducting two surveys among representatives of blood collection establishments. Additionally, we integrated incentive data from an existing study and the World Health Organization (WHO). Lastly, we performed a web content analysis of blood collector websites and news releases to extend incentive data for the United States as well as underrepresented regions. We present descriptive analyses illustrating the type and value of incentives and their geographical distribution around the globe. Approximately half of the countries in our sample employ financial incentives, which include cash and tax benefits, but also less conventional incentives, such as healthcare supplements and raffles. Time off work is also commonly offered to blood donors and varies across blood collection establishments in duration and whether it is granted to all donors or only to those whose employer allows it. There is a geographical clustering of incentives, such that neighboring countries are more likely to employ similar incentives. This study provides insights into the strategies used for incentivizing blood donation and highlights the global diversity of incentive policies for whole blood donors. In stark contrast to WHO guidelines, half of the countries surveyed employ some kind of high-value incentive for blood donors. More realistic guidelines that are adapted to the local cultural and institutional context may be needed to maintain an adequate blood supply.

Citation

Graf, C., Oteng-Attakorac, K., Ferguson, E., Vassalloe, R., & Merz, E.-M. (2024). Blood Donor Incentives across 63 Countries: The BEST Collaborative Study. Transfusion Medicine Reviews, 38(2), Article 150809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmrv.2023.150809

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 9, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 16, 2023
• Publication Date: 2024-04
• Deposit Date: Dec 21, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 15, 2024
• Journal: Transfusion Medicine Reviews
• Print ISSN: 0887-7963
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-9496
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 38
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: 150809
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmrv.2023.150809.
• Keywords: Incentives; Cross-country analysis; Whole blood donation
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/28713638
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887796323000998