Christian Weidmann1, Sven Schneider2, Eberhard Weck3, Dagmar Menzel4, Harald Klüter3, Michael Müller-Steinhardt3. 1. Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Mannheim Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany ; Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Immunology, DRK-Blood Service Baden-Wuerttemberg - Hesse, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany. 2. Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Mannheim Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany. 3. Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Immunology, DRK-Blood Service Baden-Wuerttemberg - Hesse, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany. 4. Institute of Clinical and Experimental Transfusion Medicine (IKET), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare donor return patterns of non-compensated and compensated German first-time donors to assess the effect of monetary reward on donor return. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a donor survey of 3,077 non-compensated and 738 compensated German first-time donors. Survey data were pooled and linked with blood donor return rates within the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year. Logistic regression models were used to estimate differences in the probability of donor return between non-compensated and compensated donors. RESULTS: In the first 2 years following the initial donation, compensated donors were more likely to return with the odds of giving at least one further donation 1.86 (1st year) and 1.32 (2nd year) times higher for compensated donors than for non-compensated donors. In the 3rd year, there were no significant differences in donor return. CONCLUSION: This report, which was based on two non-randomized donor samples, suggests that monetary compensation may increase the likelihood of donors returning in the first months after the initial donation. Monetary reward may therefore be used as a short-term strategy to recruit new donors. The long-term commitment, however, seems not to be affected by monetary reward, and complementary donor retention strategies are needed.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare donor return patterns of non-compensated and compensated German first-time donors to assess the effect of monetary reward on donor return. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a donor survey of 3,077 non-compensated and 738 compensated German first-time donors. Survey data were pooled and linked with blood donor return rates within the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year. Logistic regression models were used to estimate differences in the probability of donor return between non-compensated and compensated donors. RESULTS: In the first 2 years following the initial donation, compensated donors were more likely to return with the odds of giving at least one further donation 1.86 (1st year) and 1.32 (2nd year) times higher for compensated donors than for non-compensated donors. In the 3rd year, there were no significant differences in donor return. CONCLUSION: This report, which was based on two non-randomized donor samples, suggests that monetary compensation may increase the likelihood of donors returning in the first months after the initial donation. Monetary reward may therefore be used as a short-term strategy to recruit new donors. The long-term commitment, however, seems not to be affected by monetary reward, and complementary donor retention strategies are needed.
Authors: G B Schreiber; U K Sharma; D J Wright; S A Glynn; H E Ownby; Y Tu; G Garratty; J Piliavin; T Zuck; R Gilcher Journal: Vox Sang Date: 2005-02 Impact factor: 2.144
Authors: Christian Weidmann; Michael Müller-Steinhardt; Sven Schneider; Eberhard Weck; Harald Klüter Journal: Transfus Med Hemother Date: 2011-12-23 Impact factor: 3.747