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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Nov;60(11):2597-2610.
doi: 10.1111/trf.15971. Epub 2020 Aug 7.

Blood donor recruitment in Guangzhou, China, during the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic

Jian Ou-Yang  1   2 , Shi-Jie Li  1   2 , Chun-Hua Bei  1   2 , Bo He  1   2 , Jin-Yan Chen  1   2 , Hua-Qin Liang  1   2 , Yong-Shui Fu  1   2   3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Blood donor recruitment in Guangzhou, China, during the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic

Jian Ou-Yang et al. Transfusion. 2020 Nov.

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic affected blood collection in Guangzhou, China.

Study design and methods: This paper includes three studies. The observational study reported the trends of blood collection during the epidemic in Guangzhou, China. The cross-sectional survey investigated factors influencing blood donation during the COVID-19 epidemic, and a self-administered questionnaire was given to 1584 street whole blood donors (SWBDs) who donated during the epidemic. The randomized controlled trial involved 19 491 SWBDs who donated in 2019 but did not donate during the epidemic. Trial participants were randomly assigned to two intervention groups: Group 1 completed Questionnaire 1, which contained precautionary measures in response to COVID-19 and other messages about blood donation during the epidemic; Group 2 completed Questionnaire 2, which did not include this information. A control group did not receive any questionnaire.

Results: As measures were implemented, the number of blood donors increased accordingly. Both first-time and repeat SWBDs perceived the same level of blood need and donated blood because it would save lives. SWBDs who completed Questionnaire 1 expressed a greater intention to donate during the epidemic. Enabling blood donors to perceive a higher level of blood need and a lower level of COVID-19 infection risk related to blood donation mobilized experienced SWBDs to donate within 3 weeks. Intention-to-treat analyses and average-treatment-effect-on-the-treated estimations confirmed that Questionnaire 1 could motivate SWBDs to actually donate blood.

Conclusion: Various measures could ease blood shortage during the COVID-19 epidemic. Administration of Questionnaire 1 could increase blood donations during the epidemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flowchart of the randomized controlled trial
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Blood collection trends in Guangzhou, China, from 1 January 2020 to 31 March 2020, compared with the same time period in 2019 [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Blood collection trends in relation to the number of confirmed cases of COVID‐19 from 20 January 2020 to 31 March 2020 in Guangzhou, China [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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