title: Getting to the Heart of Being the Match: A Qualitative Analysis of Bone Marrow Donor Recruitment and Retention Among College Students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For those with certain blood or bone cancers, bone marrow donation can mean the difference between life and death. The National Marrow Donor Program®(NMDP) operates the largest bone marrow registry of potential donors; however, at times when potential matches are identified, many donors opt not to donate. The purpose of this study was to describe perspectives from college-aged students on recruitment to a bone marrow donation registry and retention to the registry/follow-through with the donation process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Researchers employed a one-time qualitative study using 7 focus groups comprised of 10 - 11 college students each (n = 76).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results yielded three overarching themes: donor recruitment, donor retention, and factors contributing to the overall donation process. More specifically, this study identified key factors affecting bone marrow donation in an essential population: facilitators, barriers, knowledge, and 'goodness'. Additionally, marketing and communication were found to be major determinants of potential donors staying with the NMDP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better explanations and awareness/promotion campaigns are necessary for recruiting potential donors to the NMDP and to increase the likelihood that the donor will follow through with the donation should a potential match be identified. Recommendations from this study may improve recruitment and retention rates among the NMDP campaigns targeting college students.
authors: Health Education, Texas A&M University, Department of Health and Kinesiology, 4243 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4243, .
authors: Elizabeth C
authors: EC
authors: Kaster
authors: University of Minnesota Medical School, Program in Health Disparities Research, Department of Family Medicine & Community Health, 717 Delaware St SE, Suite 166, Minneapolis, MN 55414, .
authors: Charles R
authors: CR
authors: Rogers
authors: Texas A&M University, Department of Health and Kinesiology, 4243 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4243, .
authors: Kwon Chan
authors: KC
authors: Jeon
authors: University of Cincinnati, School of Human Services, PO Box 210068, Cincinnati, OH 45221, .
authors: Brittany
authors: B
authors: Rosen
keywords: National Marrow Donor Program; bone marrow donation; college students; registry; underutilization
references: Transfus Med Rev. 2011 Oct;25(4):317-34
references: 21641767
references: Am J Med Technol. 1981 Apr;47(4):248-53
references: 7013480
references: Transfusion. 2002 Feb;42(2):216-25
references: 11896338
references: Bone Marrow Transplant. 2010 Mar;45(3):422-8
references: 19648972
references: Transfus Apher Sci. 2013 Feb;48(1):87-93
references: 22920933
references: Transfusion. 1990 Jun;30(5):444-59
references: 2193431
references: Blood. 2001 Oct 1;98(7):2043-51
references: 11567988
references: Bone Marrow Transplant. 1999 Aug;24(3):313-9
references: 10455372
references: Transfus Med. 2008 Aug;18(4):250-9
references: 18783584
references: Transfusion. 1977 Mar-Apr;17(2):123-35
references: 850930
references: Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2001;7(1):45-8
references: 11215698