Recruitment of prospective donors: what do they expect from a homepage of a blood transfusion service?

Abstract

In times of shrinking donor population, the recruitment of donors is of utmost importance. Recruitment can be done by personal communication, advertisement/information, classical mass media (newspaper, radio, TV) or new computerized media. The aim of this study was to gain information about the donors' demands of an Internet presentation of a blood transfusion service. Between October and December 2004 inclusive, prospective donors were asked to complete a survey about the impact of Internet information for blood donors. The survey contained questions measuring demographics, education and motivation for blood donation. In addition, the survey included questions that measured Internet access, duration of online time and donors' demands for an Internet presentation of a blood transfusion service. Donors were asked to tick a box with predefined answers. In cases where no options were applied, donors were requested to specify their answers. One hundred and fourteen prospective donors (71 female, 43 male) with a median age of 25 years (range 18-57 years) completed the survey. Most donors (57.9%) were 18-30 years old. Forty-two (36.8%) of the surveyed donors were repeat donors, whereas 72 (63.2%) were first-time donors. The majority of donors were informed about blood donation from relatives or friends (70.7% repeat donors and 67.7% first-time donors). Most of them had Internet access (85.7% repeat donors and 90.3% first-time donors). Exclusive use of private access was more often reported in repeat donors (77.8%), whereas both private and professional access was more frequently used in first-time donors (32.3%). Most donors used the Internet access daily, followed by weekly and monthly use. Multiple answers were given about the importance of desired information about the topic 'blood donation'. Both first-time and repeat donors wanted to be informed about organizational details of blood donation such as opening times, eligibility criteria, donation process and the kind of donation, e.g. whole blood donation or apheresis donation. Information about the use of the donated blood products, remuneration and laboratory tests performed were also required. The Internet is an important new tool for the recruitment of prospective donors. Donors want to be informed about organizational details of the donation. In the meantime, we have implemented a homepage for our transfusion service meeting the demands of prospective donors.

Motivational factors for blood donation in first‐time donors and repeat donors: a cross‐sectional study in West Pomerania

“…With regards to first-time donors, our study underscores the important role of existing donors for the recruitment of new donors, either by informing them about blood donation (supplementary material 2) or motivating them to donate blood (Misje et al, 2005;Moog & Fourne, 2007;Lemmens et al, 2008). Surprisingly, the second most common recruitment tool for first-time donors between 20 and 29 years (24·2%) was "information material of the local blood donation service".…”

Nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes of blood donation: A multicentre study

“…BD associations and agencies have identified a number of strategies for recruiting volunteer donors over the years, such as television campaigns, newspapers and Internet advertisement (Moog & Fourne, ). Often, however, these strategies are not effective because they are not calibrated on recipients (Alfieri, Saturni, & Marta, ; Codice etico dell’Ordine degli Infermieri, ; Guiddi et al, ; Misje et al, ; Moog & Fourne, ); that is why only awareness‐raising programmes, created ad hoc and implemented within the working or training contexts, such as universities or hospitals where young people spend their time preparing for their future profession, are able to increase the number of new donors and to maintain donors’ loyalty (Eser et al, ; Srzentić, Rodić, & Knezević, ). It is therefore important for donor recruitment agencies to know the factors that could promote or inhibit blood and blood products donation; this could allow them to plan messages that are more effective and thus continue to ensure blood availability in hospitals.…”

The role of social media for blood donor motivation and recruitment

“…Recruitment of whole blood donors is a daily challenge for blood donation services and many centers implement strategies to motivate blood donors. Available strategies to motivate donors include personal communication (donors recruit donors); advertisement via classical mass media such as newspaper, radio, poster; or online media (homepage of transfusion service and other internet platforms) . Especially first‐time donors (FTDs) are motivated by friends and/or relatives and requests via classical media (e.g., radio, television, or newspaper) .…”