Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Psychosocial characteristics of blood donors influence their voluntary non-medical lapse

Merz, Eva-Maria; Ferguson, Eamonn; van Dongen, Anne

Psychosocial characteristics of blood donors influence their voluntary non-medical lapse Thumbnail


Authors

Eva-Maria Merz

EAMONN FERGUSON eamonn.ferguson@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Health Psychology

Anne van Dongen



Abstract

Background: Approximately 10% of Dutch donors lapse yearly. Common reasons are non-voluntary medical issues (e.g., low Hemoglobin), reaching the upper age limit, and voluntary (e.g., own request, non-response). Little is known about predictors of voluntary non-compliance (lapses). Psychosocial characteristics have been linked to various health behaviors, including voluntary non-compliance. Hence, we investigated whether psychosocial characteristics, measured before the first donation, similarly predict subsequent voluntary non-medical lapse.
Study Design and Methods: New donors (N=4,861) randomly received a blood donation survey between July 2008–March 2009, before their first appointment at the blood bank. Voluntary lapses included personal reasons, non-response to invitations, donor cannot be reached, and no-show. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models of lapse on psychosocial characteristics, and confounders (e.g., demographics) were estimated.
Results: Of 2,964 donors who took the questionnaire, over one third (36.5%) had voluntarily lapsed due to non-medical reasons by 2016. Univariate regression showed that lapse negatively associated with norms, attitudes and intentions towards blood donation, self-efficacy and more donation experience. Lapse positively associated with anxiety. Multivariate Cox models showed that lapse was primarily driven by anxiety and need for information.
Conclusion: Certain psychosocial characteristics increase risks of voluntary lapse. Especially donors with higher donation anxiety had increased lapsing risks. They might benefit from extra attention during donation. Donors with more information need/wish about procedure and patients were less likely to lapse, indicating that binding with the blood bank might prevent lapse. Generally, this study showed that donor lapse and donor return are determined by different psychosocial factors not just the reverse of each other.

Citation

Merz, E., Ferguson, E., & van Dongen, A. (2018). Psychosocial characteristics of blood donors influence their voluntary non-medical lapse. Transfusion, 58(11), 2596-2603. https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.14891

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 31, 2018
Online Publication Date Nov 7, 2018
Publication Date Nov 7, 2018
Deposit Date Jun 7, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Transfusion
Print ISSN 0041-1132
Electronic ISSN 1537-2995
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 58
Issue 11
Pages 2596-2603
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.14891
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/935904
Publisher URL https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/trf.14891

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations