Attitudes and knowledge in blood donation among nursing students: A cross-sectional study in Spain and Portugal

Abstract

Background: Blood donors are key in meeting the ever-increasing blood requirements worldwide. The Spanish and Portuguese donation systems are based on altruism and voluntariness. However, nursing students may not be fully aware of the importance of this social responsibility and their professional skills in this field.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify differences regarding attitudes towards and knowledge about blood donation among Spanish and Portuguese undergraduate Nursing students (1st to 8th semester), as well as to analyse how different variables account for them.

Design: A multicentre cross-sectional study was carried out.

Participants/settings: The participants of the study were 1038 nursing students from four Schools of Nursing in two countries, Spain and Portugal.

Methods: The web-based CADS-19 questionnaire to measure attitudes and knowledge was used during the academic years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. Additionally, sociodemographic data were collected.

Results: The mean knowledge score was 3.079 out of 10 (SD = 1.429). The level of knowledge differed significantly by gender, where females scored higher, along with older students and previous donors. The highest mean attitude score corresponded to the "external incentives" dimension, significant differences were found between countries. In barriers and incentives, some differences were found depending on gender or sexual orientation, among others, with slightly better attitudes in Spanish participants.

Conclusions: The level of knowledge was lower than expected, considering participants were nursing students. The attitude's comparative analysis between both countries showed significant differences, especially in the pretext dimension. As for greater donation rates found in Spanish students, nurse-led international partnerships could be designed to enhance health literacy and sensitivity among nursing undergraduates. Interventions should focus on specific theoretical and practical training programs and educative actions should contribute to a greater awareness, motivation, and sensitise students to blood donation.

Keywords: Attitude; Blood donors; Knowledge; Nursing; Students.