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Segmentation and Communications to Solve the Blood Shortage: An Exploration of the Problem with Recommendations

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Abstract

This report summarizes the dire straits of the current blood supply and identifies a number of factors which contribute to this situation (low percentage of the population who donate regularly, increasing number of factors which preclude a willing donor from donating, short shelf life of donated blood, lack of a synthetic substitute). The current situation is gleaned from a literature review and the results suggested that a new source of donors (people aged 17–25) be examined to see if they might provide a way to end the shortage. A pilot survey was conducted with undergraduate students at East Carolina University and the results were surprising and encouraging. Students reported that they are donating at from 3 to 5 times the rate of all age groups. Developing an effective way to communicate with people as they reach the age to donate may be the critical step to be taken.

Résumé

Ce rapport résume la situation désastreuse dans laquelle se trouve actuellement l’approvisionnement en sang et identifie un certain nombre de facteurs contribuant à cet état de fait (faible pourcentage de la population donnant régulièrement, nombre croissant de facteurs empêchant les personnes volontaires de donner, faible durée de conservation du sang donné, absence de substitut synthétique). La situation actuelle est décrite par une étude bibliographique, dont les résultats suggèrent qu’une nouvelle source de donneurs (personnes âgées de 17 à 25 ans) doit être considérée afin de déterminer s’ils sont susceptibles de mettre un terme à la pénurie. Une enquête pilote a été menée auprès d’étudiants de premier cycle à l’East Carolina University, et les résultats se sont montrés surprenants et encourageants. Les étudiants ont déclaré donner 3 à 5 fois plus que toutes les autres classes d’âge. Développer un moyen efficace de communication avec les populations qui atteignent l’âge de donner pourrait s’avérer être l’étape décisive à mettre en place.

Zusammenfassung

Dieser Bericht fasst den Engpass bei der Blutversorgung zusammen und nennt eine Reihe von Faktoren, die zu dieser Situation beitragen (geringer prozentualer Anteil der Bevölkerung, der regelmäßig Blut spendet; eine erhöhte Anzahl von Faktoren, die einen bereitwilligen Spender von Blutspenden abhalten; kurze Haltbarkeit der Blutspenden; Fehlen eines synthetischen Substitutionsmittels). Die gegenwärtige Situation wurde im Rahmen einer Prüfung der bestehenden Literatur in Erfahrung gebracht, und die Ergebnisse regten dazu an, eine neue Spendergruppe (Personen zwischen 17 und 25 Jahren) zu überprüfen, um herauszufinden, ob sie der Knappheit ein Ende setzen kann. Es wurde eine Vorumfrage bei Studenten der East Carolina Universität durchgeführt, und die Ergebnisse waren zugleich überraschend und viel versprechend. Die Studenten gaben an, dass sie zwischen 3- und 5-mal mehr spenden als alle anderen Altersgruppen. Die Entwicklung einer effektiven Kommunikationsweise mit Personen, die das Spendenalter erreicht haben, könnte ein wichtiger Schritt sein.

Resumen

En este informe se resumen las carencias existentes en el suministro de sangre actual e identifica una serie de factores que contribuyen a la situación (bajo porcentaje de población donante habitual, número creciente de factores que impiden que los donantes interesados donen, corta duración de la sangre donada, falta de un sustituto sintético). La situación actual se extrae de una crítica literaria y los resultados sugieren que podría ser de utilizar buscar una nueva fuente de donantes (personas de entre 17 y 25 años) para ver si podrían ayudar a evitar las carencias. Se realizó una encuesta piloto con estudiantes de la Universidad de East Carolina y los resultados fueron sorprendentes y alentadores: los estudiantes aseguraron que donan entre tres y cinco veces más que todos los grupos de edades en términos porcentuales. Desarrollar una forma efectiva de comunicarse con las personas al llegar a la edad de donante puede ser un paso fundamental.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

    Guy Douglas Solomon

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  1. Guy Douglas Solomon
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Correspondence to Guy Douglas Solomon.

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Solomon, G.D. Segmentation and Communications to Solve the Blood Shortage: An Exploration of the Problem with Recommendations. Voluntas 23, 415–433 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-010-9179-8

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