title: The influence of adverse reactions, subjective distress, and anxiety on retention of first-time blood donors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated the effects of adverse events (i.e., needle reactions, fatigue, and vasovagal reactions) and feelings of distress and anxiety on retention of first-time blood donors. All effects were explored separately for men and women.
  
  
  METHODS
  First-time blood donors (n = 2438) received a questionnaire, asking them about their experience of adverse events, subjective distress, and anxiety at their first donation. Provision of a second donation was checked approximately 18 months later. After exclusion of nonresponders and donors who did not experience an adverse event, 1278 first-time donors were included in the logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine percent of donors who experienced an adverse event at their first donation did not return for a second donation. Vasovagal reactions decreased retention in both males and females (men-odds ratio [OR], 0.45; 95% CI, 0.23-0.89; women-OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51-0.98). Fatigue decreased retention in males only (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.42-0.91), and subjective distress decreased retention in females only (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65-0.92).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to decreasing vasovagal reactions, retention interventions could productively target coping with fatigue and reducing subjective distress after adverse reactions.
authors: Unit Donor Studies, Sanquin Research, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. a.dongen@sanquin.nl
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: van Dongen
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Abraham
authors: Robert A C
authors: RA
authors: Ruiter
authors: Ingrid J T
authors: IJ
authors: Veldhuizen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019462:Syncope, Vasovagal / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology