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The contribution of sociodemographic, medical, and attitudinal factors to blood donation among the general public.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Boulware, LE; Ratner, LE; Ness, PM; Cooper, LA; Campbell-Lee, S; LaVeist, TA; Powe, NR
Published in: Transfusion
June 2002

BACKGROUND: Few studies have simultaneously assessed the relative importance of sociodemographic, medical, and attitudinal factors in explaining which individuals are more likely to donate blood. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional telephone survey of households in Maryland was conducted to identify the relation of sociodemographic, medical, and attitudinal factors to blood donation history among the general public. Random digit dialing was used to identify households; individuals aged 18 to 75 years were randomly selected within households. In multivariate analyses, the independent relationship of these factors with prior history of blood donation was assessed, and the amount of variation in prior history of blood donation among the study population that could be explained by these factors was determined. RESULTS: Of 385 participants (84% of randomized homes), 228 (59%) had donated blood at least once in the past. After adjusting for potential confounders, women, black participants, and those agreeing with the statement "I am afraid of hospitals" had 60 to 80 percent lower odds of prior donation when compared with men, white participants, and those who did not agree with the statement (OR [95% CI]: 0.2 [0.1-0.4], 0.4 [0.2-0.8], and 0.3 [0.2-0.6], respectively). The effect of fear of hospitals was consistent across sex and race. Trust, fear, and suspicion of hospitals were among factors contributing most to variation in prior donation history. CONCLUSION: Female sex, black race, and fear of hospitals are three major factors negatively associated with prior history of blood donation. Fear of hospitals affects blood donation patterns across race and sex groups. Future study is needed to determine whether recruitment of blood donors may be more efficient if focused toward women, minorities, and donors' fears of healthcare facilities or hospitals.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Transfusion

DOI

ISSN

0041-1132

Publication Date

June 2002

Volume

42

Issue

6

Start / End Page

669 / 678

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Random Allocation
  • Racial Groups
  • Occupations
  • Middle Aged
  • Maryland
  • Marriage
  • Male
  • Insurance Coverage
 

Citation

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Boulware, L. E., Ratner, L. E., Ness, P. M., Cooper, L. A., Campbell-Lee, S., LaVeist, T. A., & Powe, N. R. (2002). The contribution of sociodemographic, medical, and attitudinal factors to blood donation among the general public. Transfusion, 42(6), 669–678. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1537-2995.2002.00120.x
Boulware, L. E., L. E. Ratner, P. M. Ness, L. A. Cooper, S. Campbell-Lee, T. A. LaVeist, and N. R. Powe. “The contribution of sociodemographic, medical, and attitudinal factors to blood donation among the general public.Transfusion 42, no. 6 (June 2002): 669–78. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1537-2995.2002.00120.x.
Boulware LE, Ratner LE, Ness PM, Cooper LA, Campbell-Lee S, LaVeist TA, et al. The contribution of sociodemographic, medical, and attitudinal factors to blood donation among the general public. Transfusion. 2002 Jun;42(6):669–78.
Boulware, L. E., et al. “The contribution of sociodemographic, medical, and attitudinal factors to blood donation among the general public.Transfusion, vol. 42, no. 6, June 2002, pp. 669–78. Pubmed, doi:10.1046/j.1537-2995.2002.00120.x.
Boulware LE, Ratner LE, Ness PM, Cooper LA, Campbell-Lee S, LaVeist TA, Powe NR. The contribution of sociodemographic, medical, and attitudinal factors to blood donation among the general public. Transfusion. 2002 Jun;42(6):669–678.
Journal cover image

Published In

Transfusion

DOI

ISSN

0041-1132

Publication Date

June 2002

Volume

42

Issue

6

Start / End Page

669 / 678

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Random Allocation
  • Racial Groups
  • Occupations
  • Middle Aged
  • Maryland
  • Marriage
  • Male
  • Insurance Coverage