WITHDRAWN: Erratum to "Increasing regular donors through a psychological approach which reduces the onset of vasovagal reactions" [Transfus. Apheresis Sci. 47 (3) (2012) 301-304].

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

Giving blood donors something to drink before donation can prevent fainting symptoms: is there a physiological or psychological reason?

The vasovagal reaction has been widely studied but its anatomic and physiological nature remains uncertain. The mechanisms underlying vasovagal reaction related to blood donation are not completely understood either. Does its occurrence depend on the blood donors' physical characteristics and health variables or psychological factors? On the basis that a psychological approach considerably prevents donor reactions, the effect of fruit juice ingestion was studied in a group of 1849 first-time high-school students as a simple strategy to avoid systemic reactions at blood donation.

Emotional support to apheresis donors: effect and implication.

It is widely accepted that well-being and satisfaction are unavoidably interlinked requirements that predispose donors to become regular. Detecting in advance even the mildest symptoms of discomfort during first donation, that may simply be the result of an unknown experience, is useful in preventing more disturbing symptoms (mens sana in corpore sano). Being able to recognize any form of uneasiness, even when not immediately apparent, creates in donors the awareness that staff is professionally skilled and really interested in their safety and comfort.

Blood donor satisfaction and the weak link in the chain of donation process.

Recruiting and retaining enough donors is a problem. Six hundred and thirty nine blood donors were interviewed to identify the elements that can influence their satisfaction and the decision to become regulars. The majority of them were satisfied with staff skill and communication, they declared they were calm before donating and felt well after donation.

Increasing regular donors through a psychological approach which reduces the onset of vasovagal reactions.

Vasovagal reactions, even in their mildest manifestations, deter donors from becoming regulars. They mainly occur during the first donation. A psychological approach based on a path involving three steps (welcome, psychological interview and accompanying the donor to the donation site) was performed in a group of 387 first-time donors.

Can better information increase hemapheresis?

We created a questionnaire in order to understand why donors generally did not want to give plasma and platelets the first time they were asked to donate. The hypothesis is that donors have a negative perception of hemapheresis due to insufficient information about procedures and emocomponent use. We collected 745 Questionnaires in the Marche and Abruzzo regions from February to April 2001.