title: An academic-based hospital donor site: do physicians donate blood?
abstract: The objectives of this prospective, cross-sectional study were to characterize blood donors in an academic-based hospital donor center, to determine whether physicians donate, and to elucidate the donation impetus. A confidential survey was issued to presenting, potential donors over 200 weekdays. Three questions were asked: their role at the institution, if and when they had previously donated blood, and what prompted the current donation. The majority of the 687 respondents were institution-affiliated (73.5%) and 79.3% had previously donated, with a median of 3 mo since the prior donation. Only 21 (3.1%) respondents were physicians. The predominant reasons for donor presentation were an appointment, knowing it had been 8 wk since the last donation, and contact by the blood center to donate. This study shows the dearth of physician blood donors and a strong cohort of institution-affiliated repeat donors. Physicians represent a potential, stable, and sustainable donor pool; further studies are needed to establish physician recruitment programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Kanner
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeffus
authors.forename: Gay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wehrli
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057566:Self Report; D014768:Virginia