Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Blood Donors toward Blood Donation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of blood donors toward blood donation and to find out association of knowledge and attitude with selected demographic variables. Materials and methods A total of sixty (60) subjects were selected using purposive sampling technique. The knowledge, attitude, and expressed practice questionnaire, was devised and construct and content validated before usage. The study was conducted at the Department of Transfusion Medicine of a tertiary level Institute from northern India during the year 2011-2012. Paper and pencil technique was used to collect the data. Results Analysis of data collected revealed that 23 (38.4%) of the participants had good knowledge, 21 (35%) had average knowledge, 12 (20%) had excellent knowledge and only few 04 (6.6%) had poor level of knowledge regarding blood donation. Mean of the knowledge score was 6.21 ± 2.3 and the mean percentage was 51.8%. Assessment of attitude revealed that majority of the participants had a strongly favorable attitude toward blood donation. Assessment of practices showed that majority 45 (75%) of the donors had donated blood for almost five times. Nearly half 28 (46.7%) of the donors donated blood only when they were asked for and more than half 32 (53.3%) of donors started donating blood when they were in age group of 21 to 30 years. Regarding reasons for blood donation, exactly half 30 (50%) of them donated due to altruism, and all the donors (100%) were willing to do so in future. The demographic variables like education and occupation were found to be associated with level of knowledge and attitude toward blood donation. Conclusion The findings of the study revealed that blood donors had good knowledge and a positive attitude toward blood donation but majority of individuals were not donating blood regularly as volunteers. How to cite this article Das K, Geetanjali, Sachdev S, Kaur B, Singh CI, Nongbri D. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Blood Donors toward Blood Donation. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2014;48(3):123-127.