Blood-donor perceptions of health history screening with a computer-assisted self-administered interview.
BACKGROUND
Computer-assisted self-interviewing (CASI) has been shown to promote disclosures of sensitive information. Using CASI to screen blood-donor candidates might encourage reports of deferrable risks without discouraging eligible donors.


METHODS
In 1998, an anonymous mail survey was sent to donors from eight blood centers. The relationship of donor demographics, donation history, and infectious risks (HIV test-seeking behavior, unreported deferrable risk, or reactive donor-screening test result) on attitudes toward CASI were assessed.


RESULTS
Of 92,581 blood donors surveyed, 52,650 (57%) responded; of these, 4713 (7%) had an infectious risk. Among donors with risks, 29 percent felt they would be encouraged to reveal personal data, and 7 percent reported they would be discouraged from donating by CASI. Young, minority, female, and first-time donors were the most likely to report that CASI would encourage personal disclosures. Among donors without risks, 5 percent felt CASI would discourage them from donating.


CONCLUSIONS
Although most donors felt their donation practices would not be influenced, CASI might reduce the proportion of donors with infectious risks by fostering personal disclosures and self-deferrals. The potential for CASI to improve donor screening and increase appropriate self-deferrals should be balanced against the possible loss of reluctant safe donors.
Sanchez
Ana M
AM
Westat, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Schreiber
George B
GB
Glynn
Simone A
SA
Bethel
James
J
Kessler
Debra
D
Chang
David
D
Zuck
Thomas F
TF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D003201:Computers; D003625:Data Collection; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007239:Infections; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure