title: Improvement in likelihood to donate blood after being offered a topical anesthetic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While there are many reasons people choose not to donate blood, pain sustained during the venipuncture portion of the blood donation process is likely one deterrent to volunteer donation. The purpose of this study was to survey the improvement in likelihood of donation if participants were given the option of a topical anesthetic cream prior to venipuncture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a three month period 316 adults (convenience sample) completed a one page survey consisting of twelve questions pertaining to blood donation. Participants were asked about their likelihood of donating blood in the near future (No Possibility, Possible, Likely, Certain). They were then informed of the possibility of using a topical anesthetic cream prior to donation. Subsequently, their likelihood of donating blood was reassessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty (16%) subjects reported an increased likelihood of donating blood if offered a topical anesthetic (p〈0.0001). Of these respondents reporting an increase in donation likelihood, eleven improved by 2 or more likelihood categories. Amongst the 169 participants who never donated blood, 34 (20%) reported an increased likelihood of donation after being told about the topical anesthetic cream, compared to 16 (10%) of the 147 subjects who had previously donated blood (p=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study suggest that providing a topical anesthetic had a positive effect on the study participants' likelihood of donating blood. This improvement was greater amongst those who have never donated blood.
authors.affiliation: Kapiolani Medical Center For Women And Children, Department of Pediatrics, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96826, USA. KyleWatanabe@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kyle M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jay
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alicto
authors.forename: Loren G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local