A Study of Blood Donor Demographic Features and an Assessment of Blood Donor Satisfaction Level in the Process of Donation

Abstract

BACKGROUNDDonor satisfaction is important to increase the number of repeat voluntary donors. This will help in retaining the blood donors. Repeat donors are screened regularly so they are safe donors. Understanding demographic features of donors helps to know which group of people are reluctant to donate blood. Increasing awareness about blood donation in such groups can increase the donor pool of a country. We wanted to evaluate the donor demographic features and donor satisfaction. METHODSThis was a cross sectional study. 1500 consecutive donors were studied. Blood donors were given a questionnaire with questions on demographics features and their satisfaction level after blood donation. Questions were in English and Malayalam. Donors who were willing to answer the questionnaire were studied. Donor demographic features and donor satisfaction were studied. RESULTSMajority of donors were males 1466 (97.73%). Females were only 34 (2.27%) of total blood donors. Majority of blood donors were repeat donors 820 (54.7%). Number of first-time donors was 680 (45.3%). Voluntary donors formed 62.13% (932 numbers) of our donors. Replacement donors formed 37.87% (568 numbers) of our donors. Majority of donors had an education level of up to school level (56.7%), graduates were 39.5% of donors and postgraduates formed 3.8 percentage of donor population. CONCLUSIONSThis study helps us to understand a group of people which needs more awareness regarding blood donation like persons above 35 years of age and women. Blood banks can take steps to improve donor satisfaction so that every donor feels a higher level of satisfaction. Fear adversely affects donor satisfaction level so by proper predonation counselling, fear of donors should be decreased.