In the Mood for a Blood Donation? Pilot Study about Momentary Mood, Satisfaction, and Return Behavior in Deferred First-Time Donors

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> To maintain a sufficient donor pool, deferred first-time donors (FTD) should be motivated to return for blood donation. This pilot study investigates how deferral affects momentary mood, satisfaction with the donation process, and subsequent return behavior to examine their potential for motivating (deferred) FTD. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> All of the subjects (<i>n</i> = 96) completed a first questionnaire (A1) before pre-donation assessment. Deferred FTD (<i>n</i> = 22) were asked to complete a second questionnaire (A2) immediately after deferral, while non-deferred FTD (<i>n</i> = 74) filled in the second questionnaire (A3) after blood donation. The impact of deferral, momentary mood, and satisfaction with the donation process on return behavior within 12 months was tested by calculating two path analyses, controlling for sex and age. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Mood (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and satisfaction with social aspects of the donation process (<i>p</i> = 0.01) were decreased after deferral. Deferred FTD were less likely than non-deferred FTD to return to the blood donation center within 12 months (60.8 vs. 36.4%; <i>p</i> = 0.043). However, path analyses revealed that deferral effects on mood and satisfaction were not connected to return behavior. Instead, age had a significant influence on return behavior (<i>p</i> < 0.05) such that, overall, non-returning FTD were older than returning FTD, regardless of their deferral status. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our findings suggest that mood and satisfaction with the donation process are directly affected by deferral but not clearly responsible for low return rates. It seems promising to embed these variables in established health behavior models in further studies to increase the return rates of deferred FTD.

“Blood for Blood”? Personal Motives and Deterrents for Blood Donation in the German Population

“…Two examples for additional categories not listed in the meta-analysis of Bednall and Bove (2011) are "physical consequences (positive and negative physical effects)" and "mental well-being (positive and negative psychological effects)", which came as no surprise, since previous research has frequently reported the (expected) physical and mental impact of blood donation [35][36][37][38]. Notably, studies investigating the potential positive influence of blood donation on well-being are comparatively a more recent development [39][40][41]. The chosen approach in this study is a valuable step towards the harmonization of nomenclatures and hence better comparability of data.…”

Notifying donors when their deferral is ending: An effective donor retention strategy

“…Donors may be deemed temporarily ineligible to donate for a variety of reasons, both for the protection of the donor's health and for the protection of future recipients. 1,2 Being told they are ineligible to donate can have a negative emotional impact on the donor [3][4][5] and reduce the likelihood of the donor returning to donate at the end of the deferral period. [6][7][8] A potential reason for nonreturn is that donors mistakenly view the deferral as permanent.…”

“Why don't you want my poop?” Willing stool donor's experiences of being ineligible to donate intestinal microbiota

“…8 While these results highlight the practical and financial impact of ineligibility for organizations recruiting stool donors, they do not consider the donor's perspective regarding their temporary or permanent ineligibility to donate or associated costs. Blood donor research suggests that some who are ineligible to donate may experience negative emotions (e.g., anger, anxiety, sadness) 9 or low mood 10 from being deferred. Gemelli and colleagues 9 used a modified version of the Discrete Emotions Questionnaire to understand blood donors' state-based emotional responses to deferral and factor-analyzed responses to form six composite emotion factors-disgust, happiness, sadness, calm, anxiety, and anger.…”