O-01 EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO APHERESIS DONORS: EFFECTS AND IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

It is known that intense anxiety can trigger fainting. It was observed that a psychological approach is able to reduce the onset of vasovagal reactions in first-time donors (FTDs). The aim of this survey is to study the relationship between anxiety, vasovagal reaction and emotional support during apheresis donations. A questionnaire was devised to investigate anxiety-related symptoms (ARSs) and vasovagal symptoms (VVSs) triggered by blood and apheresis donation. At the end of donation it was distributed to 600 donors. 300 of them were FTDs, 200 were repeated donors (RDs) and 100 were first-time platelet familiar donors (PltFDs). This last group was emotionally supported by the doctor during the whole procedure. All donors were asked what they felt during donation by choosing from a variety of symptoms related to anxiety and vasovagal reactions. They were also asked about discomfort in the arm of donation, pins and needles in the arm of donation and if they intended to donate again. Sweaty hands (36%) and accelerated heartbeats (34%) are the most frequent symptoms in FTDs. 17% of RDs had sweaty hands and 15.5% felt discomfort in the arm of donation. In the group of PltFDs 18% had dryness of mouth, 16% cold hands or feet, 14% pins and needles in the arm of donation and 10% sweaty hands. 58% of PltFDs, 56% of RDs and 33.3% of FTDs had no symptoms at all. 16.3% of FTDs, 21.5% of RDs and 31% of PltFDs had 1 or 2 symptoms. 24.3% of FTDs, 19% of RDs and 8% of PltFDs had from 3 to 5 symptoms. 25.9% of FTDs, 3.5% of RDs and 3% of PltFDs had from 6 to 11 symptoms. 63.3% of FTDs, 40.5% of RDs and 38% of PltFDs had ARSs or VVSs. 59% of FTDs, 36% of RDs and 42% of PltFDs had ARSs. 24.7% of FTDs, 14% of RDs and 4% of PltFDs had VVSs. 93 donors (37.3%) with ARSs and 40 donors (39.2%) with VVSs declared that they will not come to donate again. 99% of PltFDs declared the desire to donate again and 62% of them expressed the wish to become voluntary donors. Contrary to vasovagal reactions, not all anxiety-related symptoms are visible. It is possible to realize how much they are present only by talking to donors. Reducing anxiety is especially important as it may deter some first-time donors from becoming regular. PltFDs had fewer symptoms compared to the other groups and even if 42% of them admitted some ARSs only 4% developed VVSs and 62% expressed the desire to become voluntary donors. Moreover, apheresis procedures can evoke much more disturbing thoughts compared to blood donation (needle inside the vein for a longer time, the presence of a cell separator, extra-corporeal circulation). ARSs are the expression of an alarm reaction triggered by fears and they can snowball into VVSs. Only when donors’ discomfort is not too intense and when the doctor emotionally supports them in the critical moments of donation, are they able to manage their emotions.