Analysis of the blood donor behaviours: 9 years’ experience of Turkish Red Crescent in blood donor management practice

Abstract

ObjectivesThe Turkish Red Crescent has been the responsible body and created the national blood banking system in Turkey. In this study, we aimed to share the 9 years’ experience of the Turkish Red Crescent in blood donor management practice for a better understanding of donors’ motivations which might improve the ability of a blood bank to provide a more robust blood supply.Materials and MethodsBlood Banking Information Management System of Turkish Red Crescent allows to follow the donor behaviours throughout in the country. In this study, donors who are registered in the Turkish Red Crescent system were evaluated according to the DOMAINE (Donor Management IN Europe) definitions in terms of donor populations and donor behaviours. The improvement of blood donor numbers and the change of behaviours with time is analysed and discussed.ResultsWhile 24% of the total blood donors in 2009 were regular donors, the number of regular donors increased over the years to 41% in 2017 with the help of donor acquisition programmes. However, it is observed that 1 106 351 of the donors registered in the Turkish Red Crescent system (13%) are silent donors and 4 269 909 persons (49·7%) are inactive donors (As of 10 March 2018).ConclusionClassification and analysis of blood donors in the system helps to create incentives to increase the number of regular blood donors. Good donor management can be achieved by classifying donors using DOMAINE definitions and developing new strategies with appropriate donor management programmes.