Kyle M Watanabe1, Jeffrey Jay, Christopher Alicto, Loren G Yamamoto. 1. 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
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. STUDY DESIGN AND 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). CONCLUSION: 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. Hawaii Medical Journal Copyright 2011.
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. STUDY DESIGN AND 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). CONCLUSION: 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. Hawaii Medical Journal Copyright 2011.
Authors: Karen S Schlumpf; Simone A Glynn; George B Schreiber; David J Wright; Whitney Randolph Steele; Yongling Tu; Sigurd Hermansen; Martha J Higgins; George Garratty; Edward L Murphy Journal: Transfusion Date: 2007-11-13 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Sunitha M Mathew; Melissa R King; Simone A Glynn; Stephen K Dietz; Scott L Caswell; George B Schreiber Journal: Transfusion Date: 2007-04 Impact factor: 3.157