Do deferred donors continue their donations? A large‐scale register study on whole blood donor return in the Netherlands

Abstract

BACKGROUND Temporary deferral of whole blood donors is essential for a safe blood supply, yet deferral may impact donor return. Different deferral reasons may differently affect return, and donor experience may interfere with this. Therefore, we studied the joint effect of deferral reason and donor experience on return. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We used a large‐scale retrospective cohort design including all Dutch donors with a whole blood donation attempt in 2013 to 2015 (n = 343,825). We established details of the target donation (including deferral reason if applicable), details of attendances in the 2 years after the target donation, donor characteristics (blood type, sex, age), and donor experience (first‐time, novice, experienced, reactivated). Descriptive statistics as well as time‐to‐events methods were used. RESULTS Experienced donors were most likely to return, even after deferral (nondeferred 96% vs. deferred 92%). First‐time and reactivated donors were less likely to return after deferral (69 and 61%, respectively) compared to their nondeferred counterparts (82 and 76%, respectively). First‐time hemoglobin (Hb)‐deferred donors were less likely to return and slower to return than other donors. Similar results were found for reactivated donors deferred for short‐term medical reasons. CONCLUSION Deferral reason and donor experience individually as well as jointly impacted donor return. Particularly first‐time and reactivated donors were at risk of nonreturn, especially when deferred for Hb or short‐term medical reasons, respectively. Blood banks designing and implementing donor retention strategies should thus not only take successful but also unsuccessful donation experiences and different experience levels into account.

<p>Blood Donor Deferral Analysis in Relation to the Screening Process: A Single-Center Study from Southern India with Emphasis on High Hemoglobin Prevalence</p>

“…Hence, the deferral rate was higher among in-house donors (11.67%). A study by Spekman et al 18 on return of deferred whole blood donors, has also highlighted that experienced donors are most likely to return, even after deferral. Further, as our center is attached to a teaching hospital, the majority of the in-house donations were made by the migrating student population and thus a higher deferral rate in first-time donors (13.63%).…”

Whole blood donor behavior and availability after deferral: Consequences of a new ferritin monitoring policy

“…This is surprising as the lower return rate of deferred donors is well documented. 1,6,[14][15][16] The lower number of deferrals and shift from on-site deferral to deferral after the donor has donated (ie, postdonation deferral) might be responsible for this reduced cessation. Our study provides additional evidence that deferral length is not a critical factor for ceasing a donor career, 7 as the deferral categories with the longest duration of deferral (ie, the ferritin deferral categories) were the least likely to end their donor career.…”

“…The most common reason for temporary deferral is low hemoglobin 2–4 . In The Netherlands, approximately 10% of all donation attempts are deferred on‐site (ie, at the donation center), 5 40% of whom are deferred for low hemoglobin 6 . Of these donors deferred on‐site for hemoglobin, the large majority (82%) is female 7 .…”

“…[2][3][4] In The Netherlands, approximately 10% of all donation attempts are deferred on-site (ie, at the donation center), 5 40% of whom are deferred for low hemoglobin. 6 Of these donors deferred on-site for hemoglobin, the large majority (82%) is female. 7 Measurement of hemoglobin levels before donation assures adequate hemoglobin levels in collected blood, 8 prevents anemic blood donors from donating blood, and decreases the risk of health problems after donation.…”

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2: implications for blood safety and sufficiency

“…For example, the deferral of donors will result in the loss of product in the short term and, potentially in the longer term, donors. The deferral of blood donors can have adverse psychological impacts on donors and negatively impact future donation intention [160,161]. In addition, it is important that both blood centres and government health departments carefully manage their response to infectious disease outbreaks, taking care not to create undue concern among donors and the general population as donors may be reluctant to attend donor centres due to a fear of being infected and/or reluctance to travel due to restrictions [162][163][164][165].…”