Last update:
19-Mar-2025

OBJECTIVE To investigate the knowledge, motivations, and obstacles in the blood donation process in the North Aegean region.

METHOD The research sample consisted of 363 voluntary blood donors, who came to the Hospital Blood Donation Services of the General Hospitals of Mytilene "Bostaneio", Chios "Skylitsio" and Samos "Agios Panteleimon", located in the administration responsibility of the 2nd Regional Health Authorities (YPE). The survey was carried out between December 2021 and February 2022. A questionnaire was used to collect data regarding demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants, as well as data concerning the factors related to blood donation and transfusion in Greece. The Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 28.0 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS About 8/10 of the volunteer blood donors in the study were men; the average age of the sample was 36 years and 4/10 had donated blood >10 times. There was no significant difference in the frequency of blood donation between sexes (p>0.05); however, the older participants and elementary school graduates were associated with a higher frequency of blood donation (p<0.001). The reasons that encouraged volunteers to donate blood for the first time were the motivation of an association or volunteering (54.6%), and the need to donate blood for a relative or friend (31.9%). Knowledge regarding blood donation showed to be at moderate to high level (mean score 67.1±18.9), while the mean score of perceived risk from blood donation and transfusion was found to be at a low to non-existent level. The level of both, personal and others' discouragement for blood donation, was also found to be very low, with the former being significantly lower compared to the latter (p<0.001). Similarly, the perceived risk of transfusion was also found to be at a low to an almost non-existent level.

CONCLUSIONS Blood collection from voluntary blood donors in the North Aegean region is at the same level as the average of the country (in units/1,000 inhabitants) and consequently there is room for improvement. The implementation of actions to raise the awareness of citizens in combination with the activation of relevant bodies and the parallel utilization of social media could contribute significantly to motivating new volunteers and increasing the frequency of blood donation.

Key words: Blood, Blood donation, Knowledge, Motivation, North Aegean region, Obstacles, Voluntary blood donor.