[Regular versus lapsed donors: sociodemographic differences and motivational factors]

Abstract

Aim: Blood donor retention represents a fundamental objective in public health. Comparison between the sociodemographic characteristics and motivational factors between lapsed and regular donors is then required. The objectives of this analysis were: (1) to compare the sociodemographic characteristics of lapsed donors and current donors; (2) to compare the motivations to donate blood expressed by lapsed and current donors.

Patients and methods: Data from a 2008 survey, representative of the population by crossed quotas method, of 1400 individuals questioned by phone were used to reach these objectives. Chi(2) tests and binary logistic regressions were used.

Results: Results show that socio-occupational categories and motivational factors are different between lapsed and regular donors. Workers, senior management and higher intellectual professions are more often lapsed than regular donors. Concerning motivations, results show that lapsed donors more frequently mention the first experience with blood donation (with colleagues, friends, and parents) than regular donors, for whom altruistic and community motivations are more frequently cited.

Conclusion: Workers, senior management and higher intellectual professions should be targeted uppermost, in order to convert them in regular donors. Finally, concerning motivations, the social pressure applied to lapsed donors for their first blood donation appears crucial, whereas regular donors have internalized their motives, more often altruistic and community motivations.