Blood center practice and education for blood donors with anemia.
BACKGROUND
Anemia is an early indicator of many diseases, yet blood donors with low hematocrit (Hct) often receive inadequate information about its medical importance. We sought to understand the types of information that are and should be provided to these donors.


METHODS
Two companion studies were performed. The first investigated blood center practices for care of donors with low Hct including deferral length, information provided, and cutoff values used when referring donors for medical attention. The second was a randomized prospective pilot study comparing behavior of deferred donors receiving an "older" pamphlet providing a list of iron-rich foods or a "newer" pamphlet providing descriptions of common causes of anemia and advice for seeking medical attention.


RESULTS
More than 70% of centers defer donors for 1 day. Only 6% defer donors for more than 2 weeks. Most centers provide written and/or verbal information about low Hct. Only 35% have a cutoff value defining significant anemia that requires additional medical attention. In the study of donors with low Hct, significant disease was identified within 3 months after deferral in 2 of 104 subjects: metastatic lung cancer and acute lymphocytic leukemia. Only donors receiving the newer pamphlet reported that it "definitely improved" their ability to speak with their doctor about anemia.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of anemia in blood donors may be an indicator of significant undiagnosed disease. There are wide variations in how centers care for and educate donors with anemia. Donors with anemia should be provided improved and consistent educational information.
Puget Sound Blood Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Meghan
M
Delaney
Kenneth G
KG
Schellhase
Staci
S
Young
Susan
S
Geiger
Arlene
A
Fink
Alan E
AE
Mast
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D000094902:Blood Banking / Q000379:methods*; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult