title: Is blood donation an opportunity for hypertension awareness?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the blood pressure (BP) of donors, the rate of hypertensive range readings amongst donors not previously identified as hypertensive and determine the value of an informational sheet about hypertension given at the time of donation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the value of screening for high BP during blood donation as a public health activity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Blood donation centres measure donor BPs before accepting donations and thus provide a unique opportunity for hypertension screening and education.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous survey was completed by blood donors over 2 weeks. The survey contained 22 questions regarding demographics, BP knowledge and monitoring. Participants then received a hypertension information sheet and assessed its utility with three additional questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 839 survey responses received, 688 respondents reported their BP in the following categories, normotensive range: 46·9%, pre-hypertensive range: 41·7% and hypertensive range: 11·3%. Notably, of donors with hypertensive range readings, 45% reported no known history of hypertension. After reading the hypertension pamphlet, 63·9% of donors found it valuable, while 38·9% did not. Furthermore, 67% of donors said they were likely to use the information they learned, while 23% of donors said they were unlikely to do so.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An opportunity exists for increasing hypertension awareness during blood donation. Additionally, our findings indicate that an educational pamphlet at the time of donation is valuable to donors. Overall, these findings suggest that increasing hypertension awareness as part of a blood donation screening is not only needed but also useful as a public health measure.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Vermont.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Vermont.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McAvoy
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Vermont.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wickberg
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Vermont.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kerrigan
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Vermont.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kreiger
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Vermont.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sikavi
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Vermont.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Swift
authors.affiliation: Northern New England Region, American Red Cross Blood Services.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frenette
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Vermont.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Vermont.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001782:Blood Donors; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: blood donation; hypertension screening; public health