In this study, high school donors will be asked about their blood donation-related fears prior to their donation. Half of the donors reporting fear will be assigned to a brief coping skills intervention.
In this study the investigators will ask high school donors about their blood donation-related fears prior to their donation. Among those who report donation fear, half will be randomly assigned to receive a brief presentation of coping strategies administered via a computer tablet. The investigators will compare reaction rates and return behavior for the donors and high school drives where the study was conducted to the reaction and retention rates from similar blood drives where no data was collected. The investigators will also examine whether asking about the specific types of fear improves the prediction of syncopal or presyncopal reactions beyond the predictive value of a single fear question. Finally, the investigators will examine whether providing coping information to help manage the fear improves syncopal reaction rates and/or donor retention rates among fearful donors.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
4,035
Coping information related to the fear that was identified by the participant will be presented via a computer tablet.
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio, United States
Repeat Blood Donation Attempts
Donor records will be used to track subsequent donation attempts during the follow-up.
Time frame: two years post-donation
Blood Donation Confidence
Confidence in ability to cope with any donation-related fear
Time frame: immediately pre-donation
Vasovagal Reactions to Blood Donation
phlebotomist ratings of blood donor vasovagal reactions
Time frame: immediately post-donation
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