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. 2022 Aug;62(8):1571-1582.
doi: 10.1111/trf.17000. Epub 2022 Jul 14.

Staff perspectives on barriers and enablers to implementing alternative source plasma eligibility criteria for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men

Gisell Castillo  1 , Elisabeth Vesnaver  1   2 , Emily Gibson  1 , Terrie Butler-Foster  3 , Mindy Goldman  3   4 , Nolan E Hill  5   6 , Andrew Rosser  7 , Don Lapierre  3 , Kyle A Rubini  7 , Richard MacDonagh  7 , Glenndl Miguel  6 , Amelia Palumbo  1 , Paul MacPherson  1   8   9 , Taylor Randall  7 , William Osbourne-Sorrell  7 , Sheila F O'Brien  3 , William Bridel  6 , Joanne Otis  10 , Mark Greaves  6 , Taim Bilal Al-Bakri  7 , Marco Reid  6 , Maximilian Labrecque  6 , Marc Germain  11 , Shane Orvis  6 , Andrew T Clapperton  6 , Dana Devine  12   13 , Justin Presseau  1   2   14
Affiliations

Staff perspectives on barriers and enablers to implementing alternative source plasma eligibility criteria for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men

Gisell Castillo et al. Transfusion. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Canadian Blood Services introduced new eligibility criteria that allows some sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) to donate source plasma, marking a significant change from time-based deferral criteria. We aimed to identify potential barriers and enablers to implementing the new criteria from the perspective of donor center staff.

Study design and methods: We conducted Theoretical Domains Framework-informed interviews with staff from two source plasma donation centers in Canada.

Results: We completed 28 interviews between June 2020 and April 2021. Three themes representing eight domains captured key tensions. Valuing inclusive eligibility criteria: staff support inclusive criteria; many were concerned the new criteria remained discriminatory. Investing in positive donor experiences: staff wished to foster positive donor experiences; however, they worried gbMSM donors would express anger and disappointment regarding the new criteria, staff would experience unease over using stigmatizing criteria and convey nonverbal cues of discomfort, and recurring plasma donors may behave inappropriately. Supporting education, training, and transparency of eligibility criteria: participants believed providing in-person training (i.e., to explain criteria rationale, address discomfort, practice responding to donor questions) and ensuring donors and the public were well-informed of the upcoming changes would improve implementation.

Discussion: Participant views emphasize the importance of supporting staff through training and transparent communication to optimize the delivery of world-class equitable care for a new cohort of donors who have previously been excluded from plasma donation. Findings inform which staff supports to consider to improve implementation as policies continue to shift internationally.

Keywords: donor center staff perspectives; gbMSM; source plasma eligibility criteria.

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Conflict of interest statement

TB‐F, DL, MiG, SO, and DD work for Canadian Blood Services who administered the grant. MaGe works for Héma‐Québec, another blood operator. The authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Overarching themes representing key barriers and enablers
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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