A study to assess barriers towards blood donation among undergraduate students of School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

• Main Author: Fung, Kong Siik
• Format: Monograph
• Language: English
• Published: Pusat Pengajian Sains Kesihatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia 2011
• Subjects: R Medicine
• Online Access: http://eprints.usm.my/52283/1/KONG%20SIIK%20FUNG-24%20pages.pdf; http://eprints.usm.my/52283/

This research is to assess the potential barriers that mainly influence the intention of donors to donate blood among undergraduate students of School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. In order to maintain a safe and adequate blood supplies it needs proper recruitment, retention and renewal of active voluntary donor to support the increasing demands of blood. This research was conducted using a blood donation study questionnaire from Laval University, Canada which comprise of 5-Likert Scale questions. Ninety-two undergraduate students from 4 different years of studying were recruited as respondents for this research. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS program version 18.0 and data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and Pearson Chi-Square correlation. Among ninety-two respondents (79.3% female and 19.6% male students) only thirty-five respondents (39.1%) ever donated before, with 14.3% shows low intention to return for next donation and 85. 7% has high intention. From the donors' point of view, factors or barriers that decreases their intention to donate blood was location as the major cause (97.1%), not knowing how their blood is utilized (65.7%), afraid of faint or syncopal attack (51.4%), rewards upon donating (48.6%), afraid of needles (34.3%), health or medical problems (31.4%) and accompany from friend (22.9%). This study shows that the lowest barriers which does not influence intention to donate is not being informed regarding low blood supplies (17.1%). The low score achieved by the respondents, it shows the barriers stated above does has high influence on the intention to donate blood. This suggests urgent attention to improve the condition. This study concludes that information on the strategies to solve the barrier is via providing education on blood donation and its process accompanied by spreading knowledge regarding donor recruitment. The results had shown that to improve the number of blood donors, understanding of donors experience and providing support is important.