Attitudes of medical and nursing students towards blood donation.
BACKGROUND
Data on the attitudes of medical and nursing students towards blood donation are scanty. Since this group is a potential but under-utilized source of blood donors, studying their attitudes could provide insights into donor-related behaviour and, hence have implications for donor recruitment programmes.


METHODS
The attitudes towards blood donation and frequency of donation of 307 medical and nursing students were studied using a scale to measure affect, behaviour and cognition.


RESULTS
The attitudes were found to be positive in all three scales. While the behaviour scale significantly discriminated donors from non-donors, no significant differences were observed in the affect and cognition scales.


CONCLUSIONS
In a medically-oriented population, donors and non-donors do not differ significantly in their sentiments towards blood donation. Other social variables may account for donor behaviour which need to be studied further.
Rajagopalan
M
M
Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Pulimood
R
R
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001782:Blood Donors; D007194:India; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*