Inequality averse and compassionate blood donor: implication for interventions

Ferguson, Eamonn

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Blood donors, compared to non-donors, are more likely to show a preference to help others either sharing resources to directly compensate those in need or indirectly by punishing those who act unfairly. Knowing the dominant cooperative preference for blood donors will help inform the development of targeted interventions. We test which preference dominates and an initial intervention based on these findings.
Materials and Methods: We report two studies. The first compares compensation and punishment preferences in blood donors and non-donors (N= 372) using a 3rd party compensation and punishment game. Based on the results of Study 1, Study 2 (N = 151) is a feasibility experiment of an intervention based advantageous-inequality-aversion ( “As a healthy person, you can give blood and help those less healthy than you.”).
Results: Blood donors, compared to non-donors have a preference for compensation. Organ donors have a preference for punishment. Those exposed to the advantageous-inequality-aversion intervention, compared to control conditions, show a greater behavioural propensity to donate blood (this was especially the case for non-donors).
Conclusion: Blood donors have a clear preference for direct helping through compensation that can be translated into a simple effective intervention to enhance blood donor recruitment and retention.

Citation

Ferguson, E. (2021). Inequality averse and compassionate blood donor: implication for interventions. Vox Sanguinis, https://doi.org/10.1111/vox.13088

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 2, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Apr 9, 2021
• Publication Date: Apr 9, 2021
• Deposit Date: Mar 29, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 12, 2021
• Journal: Vox Sanguinis
• Print ISSN: 0042-9007
• Electronic ISSN: 1423-0410
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/vox.13088
• Keywords: Hematology; General Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5422529
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/vox.13088