ARDA KAZİM DEMİRKAN, SUDE HATUN AKTİMUR, NECLA GÖKÇE GENÇ, AHMET ŞEN
Southern Clinics of Istanbul Eurasia - 2023;34(4):358-364
INTRODUCTION: Promising reports from recent studies show the effect of convalescent plasma as an adjunct alternative in treatment. The subject of our study is evaluating the current knowledge level about convalescent plasma donation and psychometric properties of possible plasma donors and their change of tendency toward being donors after receiving structured information. METHODS: Four hundred plasma donor candidates were assessed for their current knowledge level, anxiety, depression, and health anxiety scores. Their tendency to be voluntary plasma donors before and after structured information was evaluated with surveys. Results: In participants who are undereducated or uneducated, correct information changed the decision of being a plasma donor more than educated persons, and the statistical difference between donors that have different education levels nearly disappeared with sufficient knowledge (0.006 vs. 0.037, p values). Furthermore, the previous blood donation or need for blood products in the past was important factors to be a plasma donor volunteer, regardless of sufficient information. After the structured information given, it was observed that the psychological states of the participants had no effect on plasma donation tendencies. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was observed that after the correct information, the dispositional differences between the individuals disappeared, regardless of the psychological and educational status of the individuals. Furthermore, this study suggests that the previous blood donation history is a predictive factor for being a plasma donor; so, interventions to encourage blood donation are seen as an effective approach for the long-term to increase plasma donation supply in acute situations. The results of our study emphasize that informing individuals and society is one of the basic approaches to increase plasma donation in the short- and long-term.
