Authors: (including presenting author): :
Lam LP(1), Chan TK(1), Li SY(1), Chu CY(1), Kong SY(1)
Affiliation: :
(1) Blood Collection and Donor Recruitment Department, Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service
Keyword 2: :
Pre-screening
Keyword 3: :
Donor deferral
Keyword 4: :
Donor satisfaction
Introduction: :
Optimizing donor journey is crucial for blood donation service efficiency and donor satisfaction. This study evaluates an innovative service model through using pre-screening Q&A card at registration that has piloted at the Kwun Tong Centre (KTC) since November 2024. By adopting Pareto Principle in reviewing the statistics of the deferral reasons, the model targets donors who are likely to be ineligible due to geographic exposure to West Nile Virus and medication use by advancing screening in the donor journey (before formal registration). It thereby seeks to optimize staff resources, shorten overall waiting time and improve the overall donor experience.
Objectives: :
(1)to reduce the number of unnecessary deferrals (2)to minimize unnecessary procedures before formal health screening for ineligible donors and shorten overall waiting time
Methodology: :
A “Quasi-experimental pre-post design with a non-equivalent control group” was employed to compare the change in deferral rates from the 12-month pre-intervention period to the 12-month post-intervention period between KTC and all static sites in BCS. Experimental group was KTC; Nonequivalent Control Group was all static sites in BCS; Intervention was the Pre-screening Q&A Card, which was refined at a 6-month review to include verbal prompts for common medications. The primary outcome measure was the overall deferral rate excluding vital signs related deferrals. Difference-in-Differences (DiD) analysis compared the change in rates from the 12-month pre-intervention period to the 12-month post-intervention period between the two groups.
Result & Outcome: :
The pre-intervention deferral rate was significantly higher at KTC than that at all static sites (6.06% vs 5.24%, Z=6.19, p< 0.001). Following the intervention, the deferral rate at KTC (4.09%, 1253/30613) became significantly lower than that at all static sites (4.60%, 8993/195538) (Two-proportion z-test: Z=-3.96, p< 0.001, one-tailed). The reduction observed at KTC (a 32.5% relative reduction) was substantially greater than the reduction at all static sites (a 12.2% relative reduction). The Difference-in-Differences (DiD) analysis estimated a net intervention effect of -1.33%, confirming a significant reversal of the pre-intervention performance gap. The Introduction of Pre-screening Q&A card upon Donors’ Arrival is concluded effective in reducing the numbers of deferrals and minimizing unnecessary procedures before formal health screening for ineligible donors, consequently contributing to shorter average waiting time. It demonstrates effectiveness in optimizing donor journey and enhancing operational efficacy in a static blood donor centre.
