Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: We collected and analyzed two national data sets on communication practices and voluntary blood donation. Products: As described in a journal publication and two coming articles on this subject, we provide evidence that instead of relying on mass media for blood donation campaigns, these should be centered around interpersonal communications and existing social networks. This new applied knowledge can benefit blood donations efforts. Stemming from these findings a collaboration process between our research team and blood collection agencies in Colombia is on the works. Dissemination: Our analyses have been presented to the academic community and we have reached out to blood donation agencies in Colombia. These agencies are currently reexamining their communication efforts based on our results, and a partnership with them to improve their efforts is being worked out.
PARTICIPANTS: Principal Investigator: Hernando Rojas Research assistant: Eulalia Puig Abril
TARGET AUDIENCES: Blood donation agencies, specifically their communication departments. As agencies adopt interpersonal communication plans ultimately the target audiences of these campaigns will be potential blood donors.
Impacts
Change in knowledge: Blood donations efforts should revolve around interpersonal communication efforts instead of mass mediated ones. Blood donation agencies in Colombia have accepted these insights and are currently in the process of reformulating their communicative actions based on these insights. Change in actions: Blood collection agencies in Colombia are in the process of reformulating their communication efforts based on our findings. A similar effort still needs to be implemented for Wisconsin donation agencies. Change in conditions: the final impact of our studies can be assessed in terms of units of blood donated per thousand inhabitants, but this data will only be relevant in a few years after new communication campaigns are implemented by these agencies.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
The project progresses according to the proposed timetable. The goals that have already been accomplished include: (1) to further develop a review of the literature on the antecedents of blood donation; (2) the construction of a survey questionnaire to measure attitudes and behaviors regarding blood donation and communication practices; (3) obtaining human subjects approval to conduct our research; and fielding the random sample survey in our first research site. Currently, we are in the process of: (1) fielding our random sample survey in the second research site; (2) Data management and initial analysis.
Impacts
Our research has an important applied element that will be appealing for professionals and health systems engaged in blood collection worldwide. A better understanding of how communication variables contribute to increased voluntary blood donation, one that has been tested using survey and experimental methodologies, has the potential to enhance voluntary blood donations, increasing blood availability, blood safety and reducing costs associated with such campaigns. To reach this audience, papers will be prepared for conference presentation to relevant organizations such as the Health Communication Division of the International Communication Association (ICA), and articles developed for journals such as Transfusion, American Journal of Public Health, the Ibero-American Journal of Transfusional Medicine, and Medicina Transfusional.
Publications
- Rojas, H., & Puig-i-Abril, E. (2006). Comunicacion y donacion voluntaria de sangre (Communication and voluntary blood donation). Journal of the Iberian-American Group of Transfusion Medicine, 22, 8-20.
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