Enhancing cerebral oxygenation during blood donation using biofeedback.

Biofeedback of cerebral oxygenation was used to guide application of applied muscle tension during whole blood donation, and resulted in attenuated reductions compared to donors who did not receive feedback.

Donor anxiety, needle pain, and syncopal reactions combine to determine retention: a path analysis of two-year donor return data.

Background: Efforts to expand the donor pool by recruiting younger donors have resulted in higher numbers of initial donations, but retention of young donors continues to be challenging.

Study Design And Methods: Path analysis was used to examine the simultaneous relationships among syncopal reactions, donation anxiety, needle pain, donor satisfaction, and donation intention in predicting repeat donation. Participants included 421 first- and second-time donors recruited for a study comparing the effects of predonation water loading with and without the use of applied muscle tension during donation (52% female, 60.

Effect of applied muscle tension on cerebral oxygenation in female blood donors.

Background: Applied muscle tension (AMT), which involves rhythmic tensing of the muscles of the core and lower extremities, has been associated with attenuation of presyncopal reactions among whole blood donors. This study was designed to examine whether the salutary effects of AMT may be mediated by increases in cerebral oxygenation during blood donation.

Study Design And Methods: Seventy-two female blood donors were recruited at mobile blood drives in the American Red Cross Blood Services-Central Ohio Region.

Enhancing blood donation intentions using multimedia donor education materials.

Background: Prior research has shown that education materials that directly address prospective donor concerns and provide specific coping suggestions are particularly effective at enhancing donation attitudes and intentions to give blood. This study compared the effect of donor coping materials, provided in written and audiovisual formats, as potential tools to enhance recruitment of prospective blood donors. The role of initial attitudes toward blood donation on responses to these materials was also considered.

Donor survey to assess facial flushing during automated red cell collections and medication use.

Background: We conducted a donor survey to assess the occurrence of facial flushing and other symptoms during automated 2-U red cell collections (2RBC) and plateletpheresis (PLT) procedures and evaluated the possible association of the reactions with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or with the collection technology.

Methods: An online survey was developed using Zoomerang to capture details of the donors' experience and medication use after 2RBC or PLT donations in regional blood centers of the American Red Cross.

Results: Between 12/16/09 and 4/19/10, 1,299 donors in five American Red Cross blood center regions completed an online survey (739 2RBC, 4.

Predonation hydration and applied muscle tension combine to reduce presyncopal reactions to blood donation.

Background: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the effects of hydration and applied muscle tensing on presyncopal reactions to blood donation. Both interventions are designed to prevent the decreases in blood pressure that can contribute to such reactions, but due to the distinct physiologic mechanisms underlying their pressor responses it was hypothesized that a combined intervention would yield the greatest benefit.

Study Design And Methods: Before blood donation, first- and second-time blood donors (mean age, 20.

The American Red Cross donor hemovigilance program: complications of blood donation reported in 2006.

Background: The American Red Cross (ARC) initiated a comprehensive donor hemovigilance program in 2003. We provide an overview of reported complications after whole blood (WB), apheresis platelet (PLT), or automated red cell (R2) donation and analyze factors contributing to the variability in reported complication rates in our national program.

Study Design And Methods: Complications recorded at the collection site or reported after allogeneic WB, apheresis PLT, and R2 donation procedures in 36 regional blood centers in 2006 were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression.