Many of these recruitment and retention tactics have not been that rigorously studied, and practicality and efficacy may vary in different blood services. Recognition of milestone donations (5th donation, 10th donation, etc.) with small tokens, such as pins may increase the donors’ sense of loyalty and return rate. This may involve calling the donor in the days post-donation to see how they are doing, scheduling their next donation in advance, providing donors with a newsletter, or using social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter to keep in touch with the donor. It appears that once donors have acquired the habit of donation, they are less easily discouraged by one negative experience.įinally, ongoing contact with the donor is important for return. The impact of both adverse reactions and deferral is greatest for first time or early career donors. Donors who are deferred from donation, even with a temporary short term deferral, are also less likely to return. Donors who experience a vasovagal reaction (faint or prefaint reaction) are less likely to return, even if the reaction is mild. Other factors have been associated with a decreased rate of return. Providing donors with Information about the value of their donation and the ongoing need for blood can also provide motivation to return. Good donor care includes concern for the donors’ health and wellbeing, and the provision of snacks and hydration pre and post-donation. Therefore, donor education and reassurance that needles and blood collection sets are sterile and new, and that they cannot get an infection from donation is important. A surprising number of donors are concerned about contracting an infection during donation. Convenience of donation, with proximity to the donation site and a short time required to donate are important to donors. A positive “customer experience” on the donation site is very important, and includes cleanliness and adequacy of the site, positive interaction with the staff, and privacy during the health assessment interview. Several factors have been associated with an increased donor return rate. Since regular, repeat donors are so advantageous, how can we increase donor return? They can become “donor ambassadors” and informal recruiters for the blood service, encouraging others in their family and social network to donate. Since their blood group is known, they can be targeted when there is a specific need for their blood type. Once a donor has been recruited and successfully donated, it is very advantageous for the blood service to have the donor return regularly to donate: repeat donors are more willing to return to donate when they are needed, have lower vasovagal (faint and pre-faint) reaction rates, and lower infectious disease marker rates. Recruitment and retention of voluntary donors is essential for ensuring a safe and adequate blood supply. Local Day Donor Management: Recruitment Criteria and Retentionĭonor & Clinical Services, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Canada
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