title: Understanding the meaning of permanent deferral for blood donors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To ensure the safety of the blood supply, it is necessary to permanently defer blood donors with a repeat-reactive transmissible disease test result. The purpose of this study was to explore the permanent deferral experience from the donor's perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study was conducted with donors from two Canadian blood centers who received written notice of permanent deferral in six deferral categories: human immunodeficiency virus-1 and/or -2 and hepatitis C virus and/or hepatitis B virus (negative, indeterminate, or positive). Telephone interviews were conducted with a semistructured questionnaire. Interview transcripts were coded and central themes were identified. The data were then modeled to illustrate the relationships between the themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight permanently deferred donors were interviewed and described a variety of negative emotional and behavioral responses including confusion, shock, disbelief, panic, fear, anger, stigmatization, and loss. A conceptual model was developed illustrating the phases that a deferred donor goes through (identifying as a healthy donor, receiving notification, experiencing emotional and behavioral reactions, trying to make sense of what happened, and taking action) as they travel along the path to becoming either a "reconciled" or "not reconciled" permanently deferred donor. Participants offered constructive suggestions for modifying the notification process including revising the letter, providing follow-up, and educating family physicians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first study to use qualitative research methodology to explore the experience of permanent blood donor deferral. More studies are needed to validate and expand this preliminary conceptual model.
authors: Department of Medicine and the Department of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. whittak@mcmaster.ca
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Whittaker
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Carter
authors: Emmy
authors: E
authors: Arnold
authors: Nadine
authors: N
authors: Shehata
authors: Kathryn E
authors: KE
authors: Webert
authors: Lanis
authors: L
authors: Distefano
authors: Nancy M
authors: NM
authors: Heddle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D032882:Comprehension; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000379:methods*; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission