Motivations to donate blood: demographic comparisons.
BACKGROUND
Understanding blood donor motivations is crucial to improving effectiveness of donor recruitment and retention programs.


METHODS
Data from a 1998 survey of 92,581 U.S. blood donors were used to evaluate factors influencing the decision to donate in various demographic groups. Data were weighted to adjust for response and sample design.


RESULTS
Of 52,650 respondents, 45,588 gave whole-blood (WB) donations. Among all demographic groups, the major reasons to donate were altruism (75-87%) and awareness of the need for blood (34-43%). Except for first-time donors and those <or=25 years old, blood drive organizers and/or recruiters were more important than family and/or peers in encouraging donors (13-19% vs. 1-8%). Although 59 to 63 percent of donors said they would be encouraged to donate by reminders originating from the blood bank, for some, the contact would have a negative effect and discourage donation. Discouragement would be higher if they were reminded by a telephone call (14%) rather than by a letter or e-mail (4%) or an appeal (2%) from the blood bank.


CONCLUSIONS
WB donations appear to be made primarily for altruistic reasons and in response to appeals for blood. Ways to build on this humanitarianism and take advantage of new communication routes, such as e-mail, need to be developed.
Glynn
Simone A
SA
simoneglynn@westat.com
Kleinman
Steven H
SH
Schreiber
George B
GB
Zuck
Thomas
T
Combs
Suzanne Mc
SM
Bethel
James
J
Garratty
George
G
Williams
Alan E
AE
D000533:Altruism; D001771:Blood Banks; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D003710:Demography; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires