Increase Repeat Blood Donation Attempts Among First-time Donors
Conditions
Brief summary
A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the WhatsApp groups or docudrama compared to a control group (usual engagement with blood services) on repeat blood donation attempts among first-time blood donors in Ghana. Secondary outcomes will be blood donor retention, blood donation knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, motivations, intention to donate, and relatedness as potential mediators of blood donation behavior among first-time blood donors. The RCT will have three arms: 1. WhatsApp; 2. docudrama; 3. control. Each participant in the WhatsApp and docudrama arms will receive the intervention for 14 months. Participants in the control arm will receive standard national blood donation communications and be followed for 14 months. Actualized blood donation is possible every four months using NBSG guidelines; consequently, participants may make multiple blood donation attempts. Return blood donation attempts will be evaluated using the Southern Zonal Blood Center (SZBC) records (primary outcome) and participant self-report (secondary outcome) at 7 months and 14 months. Secondary measures will be evaluated at baseline, 7 and 14 months from enrollment. The duration of the RCT will be 26 months allowing for 12 months to achieve enrollment goals and 14 months of follow-up for the last individual enrolled.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALWhatsApp
Participants assigned to the WhatsApp arm will receive messages, audios, images and videos in a moderated, closed WhatsApp group over a 14-month duration. The messages aim to motivate blood donation, encourage participants to discuss their blood donation experiences, and allow them to share their motivations for donating blood.
BEHAVIORALdocudrama
Participants randomized to this arm will meet three times (Month 2; Month 5 and Month 10), in a group setting, during the intervention. Each group will have a maximum of 20-40 participants. This is a stand-alone activity, which is not associated with a donation event. During each meeting, participants will be asked to watch, in the group setting, an episode of drama, lasting 15 minutes. The docudrama on blood donation will address participant's concerns regarding blood donation and address common donor fears.
Sponsors
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
National Blood Service Ghana
University of Ghana
Syracuse University
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
University of Minnesota, Coordinating Centers for Biometric Research
University of Minnesota
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
parallel 3 arm randomized controlled study with equal allocation
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* At least 18 years-old * First-time whole blood donor with the SZBC of the NBSG * Eligible to donate again at the time of eligibility confirmation * Consent to participate * Understands one of English, Twi, or Ga * Have a smart phone * Have, or be willing to sign up for an active WhatsApp account * Be willing to watch a docudrama on blood donation in a group setting
Exclusion criteria
* History of more than one lifetime whole blood donation (with any blood center)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Proportion with a repeat donation attempt | 14 months | The primary outcome for the RCT will be the number of blood donation attempts |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed