Leila Kasraian1, Alireza Tavassoli. 1. Blood Transfusion Research Centre, Higher Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Shiraz, Iran. LKasraian@yahoo.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine any relationships between return rates of first-time donors, number of donations in the first year and the donors' demographic characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 1,500 volunteer, first-time donors who donated blood at Shiraz Blood Transfusion Centre (Iran) were obtained from the donor database. The donors' demographic characteristics (sex, age, educational status) and donation histories were obtained for a 3-year period and the number of donations and interval between the first donation and the following donation within a 1-year period were recorded. We searched for correlations between return rate and demographic characteristics and the number of donations in the first, second and third years. The data were analysed with the chi-squared test, multiple logistic regression and Spearman's correlation tests. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: More than half of the first-time donors returned to donate again (n=776, 51.7%) during the 3 years after the first donation. The mean number of donations in the whole 3-year period was 0.69±0.49, while it was 1.33±0.62 (median 1) in the first year, 0.4±0.7 (median 0) in the second, and 0.3±0.65 (median 0) in the third year. The return rate was directly correlated with the number of donations in the first year (r=0.74, P<0.001). The return rate increased as the interval between the first and second donations decreased (P<0.05, OR=1.03). The return rate was higher for male donors and single donors (P<0.05), but was not related to age or educational level (P>0.05). DISCUSSION: In this study 51.7% of first-time donors returned to donate again, a high figure indicating the success of our recruitment strategy. Understanding the importance of the number of donations in the first year for donors' return rate and planning recruitment programs and more effective measures to encourage donors in the first year may help to increase return rates.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine any relationships between return rates of first-time donors, number of donations in the first year and the donors' demographic characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 1,500 volunteer, first-time donors who donated blood at Shiraz Blood Transfusion Centre (Iran) were obtained from the donor database. The donors' demographic characteristics (sex, age, educational status) and donation histories were obtained for a 3-year period and the number of donations and interval between the first donation and the following donation within a 1-year period were recorded. We searched for correlations between return rate and demographic characteristics and the number of donations in the first, second and third years. The data were analysed with the chi-squared test, multiple logistic regression and Spearman's correlation tests. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: More than half of the first-time donors returned to donate again (n=776, 51.7%) during the 3 years after the first donation. The mean number of donations in the whole 3-year period was 0.69±0.49, while it was 1.33±0.62 (median 1) in the first year, 0.4±0.7 (median 0) in the second, and 0.3±0.65 (median 0) in the third year. The return rate was directly correlated with the number of donations in the first year (r=0.74, P<0.001). The return rate increased as the interval between the first and second donations decreased (P<0.05, OR=1.03). The return rate was higher for male donors and single donors (P<0.05), but was not related to age or educational level (P>0.05). DISCUSSION: In this study 51.7% of first-time donors returned to donate again, a high figure indicating the success of our recruitment strategy. Understanding the importance of the number of donations in the first year for donors' return rate and planning recruitment programs and more effective measures to encourage donors in the first year may help to increase return rates.
Authors: Simone A Glynn; Steven H Kleinman; George B Schreiber; Thomas Zuck; Suzanne Mc Combs; James Bethel; George Garratty; Alan E Williams Journal: Transfusion Date: 2002-02 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: S A Glynn; J W Smith; G B Schreiber; S H Kleinman; C C Nass; J Bethel; B Biswas; R A Thomson; A E Williams Journal: Transfusion Date: 2001-06 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Kadian S Sinclair; Tavis S Campbell; Patricia M Carey; Eric Langevin; Brent Bowser; Christopher R France Journal: Transfusion Date: 2010-04-23 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Aikaterini A Kalargirou; Apostolos I Beloukas; Alexandra G Kosma; Christina I Nanou; Maria I Saridi; Anastasios G Kriebardis Journal: Blood Transfus Date: 2013-03-19 Impact factor: 3.443