Assessment of Physicians' Motivation, Willingness and Opinion on Blood Donation

Abstract

Introduction: As the world battles to combat the spread of COVID-19, there is need to ensure the availability of blood and blood products for the population of sick individuals who need them. Doctors and other health workers are often faced with the challenges of providing safe blood for their patients. Aims and Objectives: To assess the motivation, willingness and opinion regarding blood donation among physicians in Nigeria and to identify incentives and deterrents to blood donation. Materials and Methods: A web-based cross sectional survey was conducted from June to December 2020 among physicians practicing in Nigeria. The real-time questionnaire responses were downloaded in multiple formats using ‘excel’ and then analyzed. Results: Out of the 1153 participants, 730(63.3%) were males, and mean age was 40.1±8.11years. Two-thirds (67.2%) knew that safest blood donors were the voluntary non-remunerated donors (VNRD). A total of 615 (53.3%) had donated blood at least once in their life time. Two thirds of those who donated were males 75% (462/615). Males were significantly more likely to donate blood than females (462/730, 63.3% vs 153/423, 36.2%; ꭓ2:78.0; p< 0.001). Seventy-eight percent (78%) were willing to donate blood regularly. The commonest reason for blood donation (among previous donors) was altruism (72.2%). Conclusion: Physicians are willing to donate blood voluntarily but less than two thirds were regular blood donors. Concerted efforts at ‘regularly’ reminding physicians to donate blood could improve their blood donation practices.