SEATTLE Feb. 16 Research published in Transfusion reveals that e-mail is an effective way of both attaining new whole-blood donors and increasing donations from current participants. Over the measurement period, new donors with e-mail addresses increased by 74%, while those without e-mail addresses grew only 2%.

Over a period of five years, the Puget Sound Blood Center (of the AABB which provides regional blood services) collected e-mail addresses from donors and added them to a periodic e-mail list in an attempt to increase donations. Daily notifications and e-mail reminders as to when they are eligible to donate again have proved the most effective. Nearly 15,000 potential donors were also contacted as a result of donors passing along Blood Center e-mails to their friends and family.

"The 40-to 59-year-old age group is the largest, representing 45% of all donors, followed by 20- to 39-years-old donors at 31%, and an even 12% for the youngest and oldest groups," states researcher Maria Elena Geyer. While the younger generation donors are more difficult to reach (either do not have e-mail addresses or do not provide them), the middle-aged community has been most responsive. Overall, this has had a positive effect as they are the largest group.

In the future, e-mail will be a steadfast way to remind current donors and attain new donors (especially young donors). Techniques such as "Bring a Friend Day" and sports partnered events will also be used.

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Contact: Heather Noonan
medicalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net
781-388-8540
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
29-Mar-2006

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