title: Multi-gallon blood donors: who are they?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although vital to the nation's blood centers, multi-gallon blood donors have never been the focus of investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the fall of 1994, questionnaires were sent to 500 individuals who had donated 5 gallons or more and to 500 randomly selected donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multi-gallon donors reported that they received little recognition or support for their efforts and were not pressured by friends or family. One-third were not allowed time off from work to donate. One in five reported having a "bad experience" while donating. Donors who had family members or friends who had received blood donated a greater number of units than those who were not as close to blood recipients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women and minorities are underrepresented among long-term donors. Further research is needed to learn what "captures" donors and helps them to develop the psychological commitment to continue to give, as well as why few multi-gallon donors talk about blood donation.
authors.affiliation: College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Royse
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Doochin
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000009:adverse effects; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires