Motivating blood donors to recruit new donors: experimental evaluation of an evidence-based behavior change intervention.
OBJECTIVE
A sustainable, evidence-based intervention to motivate current blood donors to recruit new donors was evaluated using a quasi-experimental, in-service trial at three donation centers.


METHODS
Participating blood donors in three conditions (N = 734), received (1) an evidence-based leaflet designed to enhance recruitment motivation and five postcards facilitating recruitment and donor registration, (2) five postcards alone, or (3) no materials.


METHODS
Self-reported donor recruitment by donors was measured at 1-week and 6-week follow-up.


RESULTS
At 1-week and at 6-week follow-up, donors in both intervention conditions reported talking to more people about donation and asking more people to donate than control participants. Intervention participants also reported persuading more people to register as a donor than control participants. Results indicated that postcards plus leaflet was somewhat more effective than the postcards alone. Donors' intentions to recruit at 1-week follow-up mediated the behavioral effects at 6-week follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Motivating and facilitating recruitment of new blood donors through existing donors has the potential to continually replenish the donor population.
Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Karin P H
KP
Lemmens
Robert A C
RA
Ruiter
Charles
C
Abraham
Ingrid J T
IJ
Veldhuizen
Herman P
HP
Schaalma
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001771:Blood Banks; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands; D010174:Pamphlets; D011177:Postal Service; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D040241:Social Marketing