Pre-screening donor eligibility to avoid a deferral in the blood donation center: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: The application of a temporary deferral when attempting to donate has a negative impact on retention. Little has been done to reduce the likelihood of a donor attending to donate, only to be found to be ineligible. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of pre-screening donors when making an appointment, to prevent in-center deferrals.

A virtual reality paradigm simulating blood donation serves as a platform to test interventions to promote donation.

Effective interventions that support blood donor retention are needed. Yet, integrating an intervention into the time-pressed and operationally sensitive context of a blood donation center requires justification for disruptions to an optimized process. This research provides evidence that virtual reality (VR) paradigms can serve as a research environment in which interventions can be tested prior to being delivered in blood donation centers.

Psychological therapies for depression in older adults residing in long-term care settings.

Background: Depression is common amongst older people residing in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Currently, most residents treated for depression are prescribed antidepressant medications, despite the potential availability of psychological therapies that are suitable for older people and a preference amongst many older people for non-pharmacological treatment approaches.

Objectives: To assess the effect of psychological therapies for depression in older people living in LTC settings, in comparison with treatment as usual, waiting list control, and non-specific attentional control; and to compare the effectiveness of different types of psychological therapies in this setting.

Warming up cool cooperators.

Explaining why someone repeats high-cost cooperation towards non-reciprocating strangers is difficult. Warm glow offers an explanation. We argue that warm glow, as a mechanism to sustain long-term cooperation, cools off over time but can be warmed up with a simple intervention message.

Study protocol for ELders AT Ease (ELATE): a cluster randomised controlled trial of cognitive behaviour therapy to reduce depressive symptoms in aged care residents.

Background: This protocol describes a study of the effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for reducing depressive symptoms in older adults living in residential aged care (RAC) facilities in Australia. Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent in this population, yet the benefits of CBT for reducing such symptoms in RAC facilities have not been widely investigated. Elders at Ease (ELATE) is a 16-session CBT intervention designed for implementation in RAC facilities.

The health impacts of blood donation: a systematic review of donor and non-donor perceptions.

Background: The health and well-being of volunteer donors is of critical concern for blood collection agencies responsible for ensuring a stable supply of blood products. However, lay understandings of the impact of donating blood on health remain poorly understood. As lay perceptions are likely to influence critical decisions about donation, understanding these perceptions is key for informing evidence-based approaches to donor retention and recruitment.

A randomized controlled trial of post-donation communication materials to increase donor return following a vasovagal reaction.

Background: Vasovagal reactions (VVRs) are one of the primary reasons for people to stop donating blood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of newly developed online communications on the rate of return of whole-blood (WB) and plasma donors who experienced a VVR.

Study Design And Methods: First-time and experienced WB and plasma donors who had a VVR without a loss of consciousness in the previous 3 days were randomly allocated to receive (a) an SMS sent 1-4 days post-VVR (n = 2303), (b) an email sent 6-10 days post-VVR (n = 2360), (c) both the SMS and the email (n = 2248), or (d) business-as-usual donor retention communications (control; n = 2557).

Experiences of knowledge translation among researchers in transfusion medicine: Findings from an international survey study.

Background: Translation of research knowledge is critical to ensure transfusion medicine policies and practices reflect current evidence and so effectively support the health of blood donors and recipients, as well as ensuring ongoing blood supply. The aim of this study was to investigate the barriers and facilitators of knowledge translation (KT) among transfusion medicine researchers and determine what KT supports are needed.

Study Design And Methods: An anonymous, cross-sectional survey was distributed by emailing corresponding authors of papers in four major blood journals, emailing grant recipients in the area of transfusion medicine, posting on social media, and through an international blood operator network.

Beyond fear: A longitudinal investigation of emotions and risk of a vasovagal reaction in first-time whole-blood donors.

Background: Fear is a recognized predictor of vasovagal reactions (VVRs) in blood donors. However, less is known about the role of other emotions, including positive emotions, that donors might experience. The aim of this study was to identify the emotions experienced in center that predict onsite VVRs, and to determine at what point during the donation appointment, the experience of these emotions is most influential.

"Please help us with important research": A retrospective analysis examining the impact of research invitation and participation on subsequent blood donor behavior.

Background: As over-communication can negatively impact consumer behavior, it is important to understand the impact of research communication on donors' future donation behavior. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of (i) being invited to participate in research, and (ii) participating in that research, on future donation behavior.

Study Design And Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted with 36,418 donors who were invited to participate in one of 17 research projects, and a matched control group of 36,252 non-invited donors.

A typology of strategies that recognize, reward, and incentivize blood donation.

Background: Blood collection agencies (BCAs) worldwide are continuously looking to improve recognition, reward, and incentive (RRI) policies to optimize the recruitment and retention of blood donors. However, given the inconsistent categorization and variety of strategies available, there is a need for a theoretically informed and empirically supported framework to guide RRI research and policy development.

Study Design And Methods: Survey data from 1028 voluntary nonremunerated whole blood and plasma donors in Australia was used to validate a theorized RRI typology based on distinctions between the level of congruency with the act of donating blood (congruent vs.

Using the Health Action Process Approach to predict blood donation intentions and return behavior following a vasovagal reaction for whole blood and plasma donors.

Background: To inform the development of interventions to retain donors following a vasovagal reaction (VVR), the aim of this study is to use the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) to identify predictors of intentions to re-donate and actual return behavior among whole blood (WB) and plasma donors who experienced a VVR.

Study Design And Methods: A total of 1136 WB donors (M  = 32.4 ± 12.

Program to Enhance Adjustment to Residential Living (PEARL): Effect on Adjustment, Anxiety, Quality of Life, and Stress.

Objectives: The Program to Enhance Adjustment to Residential Living (PEARL) is a five session intervention primarily designed to address high rates of depression in newly admitted residents. This study reports the efficacy of PEARL on secondary outcomes of resident adjustment, symptoms of anxiety, quality of life, and stress.

Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with 219 newly admitted nursing home residents (M age = 85.

Improving donor retention following a temporary deferral: A cluster randomized controlled trial of deferral educational materials.

Background: Providing educational materials to deferred donors has been shown to increase their understanding about their deferral and knowledge about their return. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of educational materials in increasing the retention of deferred donors.

Study Design And Methods: A three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted, with the following conditions: (a) Incenter Brochure plus Email; (b) Email Only; (c) Control.

Designing and testing an ethnic-ancestry question for Australian blood donors: Acceptability, feasibility, and understanding.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and understanding of a donor ethnic-ancestry question with Australian blood donors.

Background: Ethnic-ancestry assists blood collection agencies to meet the demand for rare blood-types. However, there is no standard ethnicity question used by health/blood services around the world and we do not know how blood donors in Australia will respond to being asked for this information.

Trajectory and Predictors of Mental Health Symptoms and Wellbeing in Newly Admitted Nursing Home Residents.

Objectives: This study determined changes in multiple aspects of mental health and wellbeing in newly admitted nursing home residents, and identified risk and protective factors.

Methods: Participants were 204 residents recently admitted to one of 42 nursing homes in Melbourne, Australia. A subgroup of 82 participants were followed up eight months post-admission.

Views of Greenery and Psychological Well-Being in Residential Aged Care Facilities: Longitudinal Associations.

Objectives: This study examined associations of objectively measured views of greenery in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) with changes in multiple psychological well-being measures among residents who were newly admitted to RACFs.

Methods: Data were collected from 52 residents (mean age: 84, 73% women) of 13 RACFs, located in Melbourne, Australia. The outcomes were changes in depression, stress, anxiety, and quality of life (QoL) between baseline and 8-week follow-up.

Visits to general practitioners after iron-related deferrals from blood donation in middle-aged and older Australian blood donors.

Background: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood (Lifeblood) advises donors to visit their general practitioner (GP) for medical follow-up if they are deferred from donating due to having a lower than acceptable level of hemoglobin (Hb) and/or serum ferritin (iron-related deferrals).

Methods: We used the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study data linked to Lifeblood's donor datasets and other health administrative datasets. We examined the rate of visits to a GP after iron-related deferral from donation, and investigated whether an early visit to a GP (within 30 days following the deferral) had an impact on return to make successful donation within 12, 18, and 24 months compared to a delayed or no GP visit.

Willingness of blood donors in Australia to provide additional data and blood sample for health research.

Background: Many blood collection agencies are generating important data on donor health outcomes using large-scale blood donor cohort studies. Such studies can be very effective when donors provide access to linkage of their data to external health databases, and storage and genomic testing of their blood sample. In this study, we aimed to assess the willingness of Australian blood donors to provide additional data and blood sample for donation-related and other health research.

Notifying donors when their deferral is ending: An effective donor retention strategy.

Background: The application of a temporary deferral often leads to donor lapse. Contributing factors may be donors not knowing when their deferral ends or not being contacted and asked to return. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a reminder message notifying donors that their deferral is coming to an end in increasing donors' postdeferral return rates.

Assessing Residents' Perceptions of Their Relocation to Long-Term Care: Psychometric Validation of the View of Relocation Scale.

Objectives: Relocation to long-term care is a major challenge for older people. The View of Relocation Scale (VRS) was developed to address the need for a brief instrument to assess residents' perceptions of the relocation.

Design: Secondary analysis of data collected in a cluster randomized trial.

The vasovagal reaction experience among blood donors: A qualitative study of factors that affect donor return.

Rationale: Blood collection agencies face ongoing challenges in retaining voluntary donors to meet the demand for blood and blood-related products by healthcare services. A known deterrent to continued blood donation is the experience of a vasovagal reaction (VVR). However, there has been little research into donors' experiences of these reactions and the factors that influence their decision to return, which is essential information to inform strategies to improve donor return.

Improving the donation experience and reducing venipuncture pain by addressing fears among whole-blood and plasma donors.

Background: Fear of blood donation is implicated in vasovagal reactions, donor recruitment, and retention. This study examined the extent to which fear among donors is associated with various donor outcomes in an Australian sample, and whether fear can be addressed on-site to reduce adverse reactions and improve the donation experience.

Study Design And Methods: Six hundred and sixty-four donors (age M = 33.