title: Blood-donor perceptions of health history screening with a computer-assisted self-administered interview.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Westat, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: George B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: Simone A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Glynn
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bethel
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Zuck
mesh_terms: 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