       Document 0159
 DOCN  M9580159
 TI    [Survey of blood donors on the topic of reimbursement for blood donors]
 DT    9506
 AU    Zeiler T; Kretschmer V; Abteilung fur Transfusionsmedizin und
       Gerinnungsphysiologie der; Philipps-Universitat Marburg.
 SO    Infusionsther Transfusionsmed. 1995 Feb;22(1):19-24. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE MED/95245098
 AB    BACKGROUND: Remuneration for blood donors, in the way as presently
       handled by governmental and communal blood transfusion services in
       Germany, is not generally accepted. It is feared that donors are
       recruited with increased risk to transmit infectious diseases,
       especially AIDS. Alternative incentives are discussed. After the
       so-called AIDS scandal in Germany, a change in the donor motivation was
       to be expected, associated with an increased willingness to renounce
       remuneration. Therefore, we performed the present survey, in which we
       evaluated the donor's willingness to renounce remuneration,
       possibilities of cashless remuneration and other alternative incentives.
       MATERIAL AND METHODS: During March and April 1994, a total of 1,157
       blood donors of the University Blood Bank Marburg were questioned
       anonymously by a questionnaire in the framework of whole-blood
       donations. Beside the above-mentioned aspects demoscopic data were
       included (age, sex, profession, journey). RESULTS: Cutting of
       remuneration without any other compensation was refused by 86.1% of the
       donors, 77% would not want to further donate blood in this case.
       Transfer of money to a bank account instead of cash payment was accepted
       by 78.6%, the use of non-negotiable cheques by 68.7%. Alternative
       compensation by tickets for theater, concert, cinema or coupons for
       restaurants met with the approval of only 27.3%; under these
       circumstances, 36.9% would be willing to continue blood donation. With
       increasing age and number of donations, but largely independent of
       social status, donors attached greater importance to retention of
       remuneration. DISCUSSION: Cutting of remuneration would result in a
       considerable reduction of the willingness to donate blood within the
       population of donors of the governmental and communal blood transfusion
       services. However, an increase of virus safety of the blood products
       would not be reached in this way, since especially the long-term donors
       would be driven away. Considerable bottlenecks, particularly in the
       specific blood supply of hospital-integrated blood transfusion services,
       would have to be expected.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  *Attitude to Health  Blood Banks  Blood
       Donors/*PSYCHOLOGY  English Abstract  Female  Germany  Human  HIV
       Infections/PSYCHOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  Male  Middle Age  *Motivation
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

