Characteristics of Lapsed German Whole Blood Donors and Barriers to Return Four Years after the Initial Donation

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to identify characteristics of lapsed donors 4 years the initial donation as well as self-reported barriers to return for further blood donations. Methods: A random number of 8,000 blood donors, donating for the German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg – Hessen, were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire. The response rate was 38.5%. Donors were categorized as ‘lapsed’ if they had not donated within the last 24 months. The odds of being a lapsed donor were determined in a multivariate logistic regression. Results: Multivariate analysis showed that lapsed donors were more likely to be female, between 26 and 33 years old, not employed, have moved, and were dissatisfied with the last donation experience. Furthermore, lapsed donors were less likely to have family members or friends who also donate blood. Medical reasons and having moved to another city were the most frequently named reasons preventing lapsed donors from continuing to donate blood. Conclusion: The importance of medical reasons and having moved was rated much higher than in previous studies. We conclude that barriers to return may vary considerably between countries and blood services. Therefore, donor surveys are required to guide reactivation campaigns.

Monetary Compensation and Blood Donor Return: Results of a Donor Survey in Southwest Germany

“…These findings are in contrast to previous studies that underline the relevance of 1st year donation frequency for long-term donor retention [13,16]. Schreiber et al [16] demonstrated that further donations in the first months following the initial blood donation significantly increase the likelihood of becoming a regular blood donor.…”

“…The analytic sample consisted of 3,649 donors (sample 1 = 2,935 and sample 2 = 714). In both samples, donors who did not participate in the survey tended to be younger, male, and donated less frequently after the initial donation than participating donors [13]. …”

“…The first sample consisted of 8,000 non-compensated whole blood donors who were randomly selected from the database of the Red Cross Blood Service of Baden-Wuerttemberg - Hesse located in southwest Germany [13]. All selected donors started giving whole blood in 2005 at a mobile or fixed collection site of the Red Cross Blood Service in southwest Germany without receiving any monetary compensation.…”

“…Donors returning to the university blood center in sample 1 (initially non-compensated donors) as well as donors returning to a mobile or fixed collection site of the German Red Cross Blood Service in sample 2 (initially compensated donors) were recorded and included into the analysis. However, donations collected in other federal states or by other organizations could not be considered for this study [13,14]. …”

Donor Satisfaction with a New German Blood Donor Questionnaire and Intention of the Donor to Return for Further Donations

“…The retention and motivation of active donors has thus been described as one of the major challenges for Blood Donor Services to secure the estimated demand for transfusions [4,5]. A significant proportion of active donors, however, stop donating blood at one point in their donor career for no obvious reason [6,7].…”