Deterrent factors of blood donation among lapsed blood donors in the fixed sites of Taiwan

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesFixed blood donation sites are crucial sources in the stabilization process of blood bank stock level. In addition to recruiting new donors, ensuring that donors at a fixed site continue to donate blood and preventing donors from becoming lapsed donors is equally critical.Materials and MethodsA total of 56 137 donors who had made whole blood donation at a fixed blood donation site in the past 2 years (from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2017), but failed to make another donation in the past year (from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017) were defined as lapsed donors in Kaohsiung Blood Center. This study sent questionnaires to these lapsed donors by mail to determine the blood donation motivation and deterrent factors.ResultsFirst‐time donors, female donors, donors of 17–30 years old, students, service sector employees, donors who last donated at a mobile blood donation vehicle and donors who have only made one donation are the primary focal point of this study. These donors are the lapsed donors from fixed blood donation sites. This study revealed that lapsed donors from different demographic groups indeed have different motivation and deterrent factors. However, the majority of donors do not oppose blood donation. The main reason for them to stop donating blood is work and family.ConclusionAnalysing the features of lapsed donors helps develop strategies for stabilizing the blood bank stock level, thereby enhancing invitations to specific groups to increase blood donation frequency and transforming donors into regular donors.