Evaluation of the return rate of volunteer blood donors

BACKGROUND: To convert first-time blood donors into regular volunteer donors is a challenge to transfusion services. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to estimate the return rate of first time donors of the Ribeirão Preto Blood Center and of other blood centers in its coverage region. METHODS: The histori...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Adriana de Fátima Lourençon, Rodrigo Guimarães dos Santos Almeida, Oranice Ferreira, Edson Zangiacomi Martinez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2011-06-01
Series:Revista Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-84842011000300010
Description
Summary:BACKGROUND: To convert first-time blood donors into regular volunteer donors is a challenge to transfusion services. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to estimate the return rate of first time donors of the Ribeirão Preto Blood Center and of other blood centers in its coverage region. METHODS: The histories of 115,553 volunteer donors between 1996 and 2005 were analyzed. Statistical analysis was based on a parametric long-term survival model that allows an estimation of the proportion of donors who never return for further donations. RESULTS: Only 40% of individuals return within one year after the first donation and 53% return within two years. It is estimated that 30% never return to donate. Higher return rates were observed among Black donors. No significant difference was found in non-return rates regarding gender, blood type, Rh blood group and blood collection unit. CONCLUSIONS: The low percentage of first-time donors who return for further blood donation reinforces the need for marketing actions and strategies aimed at increasing the return rates.
ISSN:1516-8484
1806-0870