Mindy Goldman1, Samra Uzicanin2, Jenna Scalia2, Vito Scalia3, Sheila F O'Brien2. 1. Donor and Clinical Services, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. mindy.goldman@blood.ca. 2. Epidemiology and Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 3. National Testing Laboratory, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Informing donors of their ferritin status is one possible mitigating strategy to reduce iron deficiency in donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We evaluated the impact of informing donors of their ferritin status on their donation frequency, understanding of iron needs, and actions to improve iron intake 2 years after their inclusion in a prospective observational cohort study. RESULTS: Informing donors of low ferritin results decreased return rate in first-time and repeat donors, and the median number of donations declined from three to two donations/year in returning donors with low ferritin on index donation compared to an increase from 1.5 to 2.5 donations/year in donors with normal ferritin. An electronic questionnaire demonstrated that approximately 60% of low ferritin donors saw their primary medical practitioner, and half of this group started iron. Qualitative interviews revealed suboptimal understanding of iron needs and poor compliance with iron supplementation. CONCLUSION: Providing donors with results of ferritin testing may reduce return rates and donation frequency in the 2 years after testing. Simply providing donors with ferritin results and an information sheet is often inadequate to improve donors' understanding of iron needs and may not lead to a substantive increase in iron intake over time.
BACKGROUND: Informing donors of their ferritin status is one possible mitigating strategy to reduce iron deficiency in donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We evaluated the impact of informing donors of their ferritin status on their donation frequency, understanding of iron needs, and actions to improve iron intake 2 years after their inclusion in a prospective observational cohort study. RESULTS: Informing donors of low ferritin results decreased return rate in first-time and repeat donors, and the median number of donations declined from three to two donations/year in returning donors with low ferritin on index donation compared to an increase from 1.5 to 2.5 donations/year in donors with normal ferritin. An electronic questionnaire demonstrated that approximately 60% of low ferritin donors saw their primary medical practitioner, and half of this group started iron. Qualitative interviews revealed suboptimal understanding of iron needs and poor compliance with iron supplementation. CONCLUSION: Providing donors with results of ferritin testing may reduce return rates and donation frequency in the 2 years after testing. Simply providing donors with ferritin results and an information sheet is often inadequate to improve donors' understanding of iron needs and may not lead to a substantive increase in iron intake over time.
Authors: Ritchard G Cable; Rebecca J Birch; Bryan R Spencer; David J Wright; Walter Bialkowski; Joseph E Kiss; Jorge Rios; Barbara J Bryant; Alan E Mast Journal: Transfusion Date: 2017-07-13 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Stephen Kaptoge; Emanuele Di Angelantonio; Carmel Moore; Matthew Walker; Jane Armitage; Willem H Ouwehand; David J Roberts; John Danesh; Simon G Thompson Journal: Lancet Haematol Date: 2019-08-02 Impact factor: 30.153