title: Factors influencing donor return.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To predict future blood donation behavior and improve donor retention, it is important to understand the determinants of donor return.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered questionnaire was completed in 2003 by 7905 current donors. With data mining methods, all factors measured by the survey were ranked as possible predictors of actual return within 12 months. Significant factors were analyzed with logistic regression to determine predictors of intention and of actual return.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Younger and minority donors were less likely to return in 12 months. Predictors of donor return were higher prior donation frequency, higher intention to return, a convenient place to donate, and having a good donation experience. Most factors associated with actual donor return were also associated with a high intention to return. Although not significant for actual return, feeling a responsibility to help others, higher empathetic concern, and a feeling that being a blood donor means more than just donating blood were related to high intention to return.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prior donation frequency, intention to return, donation experience, and having a convenient location appear to significantly predict donor return. Clearly, donor behavior is dependent on more than one factor alone. Altruistic behavior, empathy, and social responsibility items did not enter our model to predict actual return. A donor's stated intention to give again is positively related to actual return and, while not a perfect measure, might be a useful proxy when donor return cannot be determined.
authors.affiliation: Westat, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. karenschlumpf@westat.com
authors.forename: Karen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Schlumpf
authors.forename: Simone A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Glynn
authors.forename: George B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Whitney
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Randolph Steele
authors.forename: Yongling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Sigurd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hermansen
authors.forename: Martha J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garratty
authors.forename: Edward L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001771:Blood Banks; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D054555:National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U.S.); D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce