Enhancing the recruitment and retention of voluntary blood donors is vital for maintaining a safe and ample blood supply. Studies have indicated that the implementation of targeted recruitment strategies and improved donor retention programs can have a significant impact on donation rates. Mossialos et al. (2016) highlighted the essential role of regular voluntary unpaid blood donors in ensuring a safe blood supply, as they are associated with minimal infection risks from transfusions, including HIV and hepatitis viruses.
Given these insights, how can we motivate individuals to donate their blood voluntarily without expecting financial compensation?
Some ways to improve recruitment and retention of blood donors are through incentives such as snacks after the donors have donated blood. With the popularity of social media apps increasing, it might be a good idea to promote blood donation events through these media. Finally, we should let the donors know the impact that their donations can make for the good of our patients
In Cameroon (a Central African country), there is a problem with blood donor loyalty which does not bode well for the recruitment of new donors. Thus, as part of my doctoral thesis, I analyzed the satisfaction of blood donors with regard to the donation process put in place by the authorities.
My results showed that the satisfaction score of blood donors in Cameroon is low (60.33% < 80%). In order to understand what can improve this satisfaction score, our contribution matrix showed that the step of monitoring donors after their blood donation is the factor with a strong influence on improving blood donor satisfaction in Cameroon. One of its items, namely “after my blood donation, if I am reminded of the date of the next donation, I will donate” appears to be fundamental for a policy of increasing the number of blood donations from former blood donors. Also, our analysis highlights the elements which require very particular attention in the supervision of blood donors in Cameroon. These are the elements of the snack and blood collection stages because these stages do not contribute enough to improving blood donor satisfaction, but on the other hand they have a strong capacity to deteriorate donor satisfaction when they are poorly perceived by them.
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