Community blood donors' knowledge of anemia and design of a literacy-appropriate educational intervention.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this project is to improve the health of blood donors by educating and motivating them to seek medical attention for anemia. The National Anemia Action Council, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, and the Medical College of Wisconsin formed a partnership to engage volunteer blood donors and develop an educational intervention to motivate donors with anemia to seek appropriate medical care.


METHODS
Partners developed an educational pamphlet and conducted two focus groups with volunteer blood donors for feedback. Participants were recruited from volunteer donors at BloodCenter of Wisconsin found to have anemia (men age, 18 years and older with a hematocrit [Hct] level of <38%; women age 50 years and older with a Hct level of <36%) at blood screening before donation.


RESULTS
Participants (n = 25) addressed their understanding of anemia, information they received after being deferred, their reactions about the deferral, and comments on the educational material. The educational pamphlet was revised based on focus group comments.


CONCLUSIONS
Volunteer donors are extremely dedicated and interested in increasing their understanding of anemia and the ability to continue donation. Community members' feedback on educational material is a valuable resource to improve the literacy level of information.
Young
Staci
S
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA. syoung@mcw.edu
Fink
Arlene
A
Geiger
Susan
S
Marbella
Anne
A
Mast
Alan E
AE
Schellhase
Kenneth G
KG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000523:psychology*; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D003151:Community Health Centers; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010174:Pamphlets; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care