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10-Jun-2025
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Arch Hellen Med, 42(4), July-August 2025, 532-539 ORIGINAL PAPER Attitudes, behaviors, opinions, and suggestions of blood donors toward blood donation in Crete, Greece N. Rikos,1 M. Katsalaki,2 A. Titomichelaki,3 A. Linardaki,4 M. Assargiotaki,2 G. Kourlaba,5 M. Linardakis4 |
OBJECTIVE Τo assess attitudes, behaviors, opinions, and suggestions of blood donors in Crete, Greece.
METHOD A cross-sectional study was implemented involving 364 blood donors in hospitals and mobile units between October to December 2022. A standardized questionnaire was used to assess relationships of "attitudes and behaviors", "opinions and suggestions on blood donation" and the "fear of COVID-19", through multiple linear regression analysis.
RESULTS The majority of donors were males (66.8%), mean age was 38.4 years (±10.7), and 66.5% were active voluntary donors. On the "attitudes and behaviors" scale, the mean score was 3.9 (±0.4) or medium to high levels of positive "attitudes and behaviors". For "opinions and suggestions", the highest mean score was found in the "attracting blood donors" subscale (4.2±0.6), while the mean score of "fear of COVID-19" was 1.8 (±0.7) or low levels of fear/anxiety. Higher (positive) levels of "attitudes and behaviors" are correlated with female gender (β=0.099, p=0.032), regular donation (β=0.160, p=0.002), frequent donation (β=0.066, p=0.042), greater agreement on attracting blood donors (β=0.141, p<0.001), and lower levels of fear/anxiety related to COVID-19 (β=-0.062, p=0.047).
CONCLUSIONS Cretan (Greek) blood donors seem to have positive attitudes and behaviors, significantly affected by female gender, regular donation and attracting of donation, and lower levels of fear/anxiety related to COVID-19. These new indications should be considered in attracting new blood donors with continuous encouragement and recruitment.
Key words: Attitudes, Blood donation, Community, COVID-19, Pandemic.
