title: Determinants of return behavior: a comparison of current and lapsed donors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a need to identify factors explaining why some people stop donating blood.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random mail survey of first-time (FT) and repeat (RPT) current (donating within 6 months before survey) and lapsed (donating >2 years prior) donors was conducted. The self-administered questionnaire included questions on personal, social, and behavioral characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 1280 current and 1672 lapsed donors with valid addresses, the participation rate was 66.8 and 39.2 percent, respectively. In FT donors, the odds of lapsing increased with education (odds ratio [OR], 2.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-3.55 for college or higher vs. Grade 12 or less education). Lapsed FT donors were more often asked to donate (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.32-2.70) and had less interest in incentives (p < 0.001) than current FT donors. In RPT donors, lapsed status was associated with being younger (p < 0.001) and female (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.00-1.42). Lapsed status was inversely associated with satisfaction with the last donation experience in both FT (p = 0.043) and RPT (p < 0.001) donors. Lapsed and current donors did not differ in perceived need for blood, personal transfusion experience, or mean reported altruistic behavior score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A positive donation experience appears to be a major determinant of donor return behavior. Lapsed donors do not appear, on average, to engage in fewer altruistic behaviors than currently active donors. Retention marketing strategies that appeal solely to altruistic values need to be further evaluated for their effectiveness.
authors: Microbiology and Epidemiology, Héma-Québec, 1009 du Vallon Road, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada. Marc.Germain@Hema-Quebec.qc.ca
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Germain
authors: Simone A
authors: SA
authors: Glynn
authors: George B
authors: GB
authors: Schreiber
authors: Stéphanie
authors: S
authors: Gélinas
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: King
authors: Mike
authors: M
authors: Jones
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Bethel
authors: Yongling
authors: Y
authors: Tu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001519:Behavior; D002681:China; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec; D012008:Recurrence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000523:psychology*