Enhancing Blood Donation Intentions Using the Train-the-Trainer ( TTT ) Model: A Field Trial Study

Background: In Iran, despite various attempts to increase recruitment of female blood donors, women make up less than 10% of blood donors.Methods: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of face-toface education via the Train-the-Trainer (TTT) model on people’s willingness to donate blood, especially women. A field trial study was designed based on a face-to-face educational plan for a population in 22 municipal regions of Tehran, the capital of Iran. The periods from March 2011 to February 2011 and from March 2010 to February 2010 were named as trial 2 and trial 1, respectively.Results: Total number of volunteers in trial 2 was 9,178 cases, including 2,785 females and 6,393 males, compared with 4,074 cases, including 454 females and 3,620 males, in trial 1. Female/male ratios in trials 1 and 2 were 0.13 and 0.44, respectively (p<0.001). Deferred donors made up 24% (981/4074) of 4,074 in trial 1, and of the 9,178 donors in trial 2, 29% (2693/9178) were deferred (p<0.001). The most common cause in trial 1 was erythrocytosis, 20%, and in trial 2 was anemia, 21.5%.Conclusions: Overall, face-to-face education is an appropriate method for enhancing safe blood donor motivation and recruitment

Enhancing Blood Donation Intentions Using the Train-the-Trainer ( TTT ) Model: A Field Trial Study

Background: In Iran, despite various attempts to increase recruitment of female blood donors, women make up less than 10% of blood donors.Methods: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of face-toface education via the Train-the-Trainer (TTT) model on people’s willingness to donate blood, especially women. A field trial study was designed based on a face-to-face educational plan for a population in 22 municipal regions of Tehran, the capital of Iran. The periods from March 2011 to February 2011 and from March 2010 to February 2010 were named as trial 2 and trial 1, respectively.Results: Total number of volunteers in trial 2 was 9,178 cases, including 2,785 females and 6,393 males, compared with 4,074 cases, including 454 females and 3,620 males, in trial 1. Female/male ratios in trials 1 and 2 were 0.13 and 0.44, respectively (p<0.001). Deferred donors made up 24% (981/4074) of 4,074 in trial 1, and of the 9,178 donors in trial 2, 29% (2693/9178) were deferred (p<0.001). The most common cause in trial 1 was erythrocytosis, 20%, and in trial 2 was anemia, 21.5%.Conclusions: Overall, face-to-face education is an appropriate method for enhancing safe blood donor motivation and recruitment

Associates of poor physical and mental health-related quality of life in beta thalassemia-major/intermedia

<ul><li><strong><span style="font-size: 8pt;">BACKGROUND</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 8pt;">:</span></strong> Using two logistic regression models, we determined the associates of poor physical and mental health related quality of life (HRQoL) among beta thalassemia patients.</li><li><strong><span style="font-size: 8pt;">METHODS</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 8pt;">:</span></strong> In this cross-sectional study which was conducted during 2006 and 2007 in outpatient adult thalassemia clinic, Blood Transfusion Organization, Tehran, Iran, Short Form 36 (SF-36) was used for measuring HRQoL in 179 patients with beta thalassemia (major/intermedia). <span>We determined scores higher than third quartiles of obtained PCS and MCS scores as the cutoff points of good HRQoL. Poor HRQoL was defined scores lower than first quartiles of obtained PCS and MCS scores.</span> Two distinct logistic regression models were used to derive associated variables including demographic, clinical, and psychological factors.</li><li><strong><span style="font-size: 8pt;">RESULTS</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 8pt;">:</span></strong> The regression models suggested that poor physical HRQoL was positively associated with somatic comorbidities (OR = 1.472, CI = 1.021-2.197, p = 0.048) and depression score (OR = 8.568, CI = 2.325-31.573, p = 0.001). The variables that were associated with poor mental HRQoL were anxiety score (OR = 9.409, CI = 1.022-89.194, p = 0.049) and depression score (OR = 20.813, CI = 4.320-100.266, p < 0.001).</li><li><strong><span style="font-size: 8pt;">CONCLUSIONS</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 8pt;">:</span></strong> Depression is associated with both poor physical and mental HRQoL among patients with major/intermedia beta thalassemia, however somatic comorbidities and anxiety are associated with poor physical and mental HRQoL, respectively.</li><li><strong><span style="font-size: 8pt;">KEYWORDS</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 8pt;">:</span></strong> Thalassemia, Health Related Quality of Life, Anxiety, Depression, Somatic Comorbidities.</li></ul><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[endif]--&gt

Evaluation of platelet aggregation in splenectomized beta-thalassemia major and intermedia patients

BACKGROUND: Platelet dysfunction may be one of the pathophysiologic complications in beta-thalassemia patients. However, the results obtained from the platelet aggregation vary in different types of β-thalassemia and among patients. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the platelet function to determine risk of thrombosis in two groups': beta-thalassemia major (TM) and intermedia (TI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, platelets of 82 adult patients with beta-thalassemia (46 β-TM and 36 β-TI) who had undergone splenectomy and 85 normal healthy individuals as control were induced by collagen 10 μ g/ml, adenosine diphosphate (ADP) 20 μ M/l, arachidonic acid 500 μ M/l, and ristocetin 1500 μ g/ml. Independent t-test was used to compare the mean values using SPSS 16. P < 0.05 was taken to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: Although a significant increase was observed in the platelet aggregation by collagen, ADP, and arachidonic acid in β-TM patients as compared with healthy controls, the β-TI patients showed no difference (P < 0.05). There was no significant alteration in response to ristocetin in β-TM but it reduced in β-TI. CONCLUSIONS: The platelet aggregation in β-TM patients is more than β-TI, both of whom splenectomized. The platelet aggregation in beta-thalassemia might be impressed by transfusion. Given these changes, thrombotic risk should be considered in beta-thalassemia patients

Evaluation of new cases of HCV infection in thalassaemia patients for source of infection

Background: Screening tests on blood bags is important step for blood safety. In Iran, screening for HCV started from 1996. We decided to determine the new cases of hepatitis C in our thalassemic patients, after screening of blood bags was initiated and trace backing from recipients to find their donors. Materials and Methods: The study was done on patients with complete files for HCVAb test results. Only cases that had a positive HCVAb result following a negative result were considered as new cases. For trace backing, we recorded the blood transfusions&#x2032; date and the blood bags&#x2032; number from last negative test results (HCVAb) to the first positive test result. These data were sent to the transfusion center. The suspected donors were contacted and asked to be tested again in the transfusion center. Results: A total of 395 patients were studied; 229 (58&#x0025;) males and 166 (42&#x0025;) females. Mean age was 27.5 years. We had 109 HCV (27.5&#x0025;) positive cases of whom 21 were infected after 1996. We traced the last five cases contaminated during 2003 and 2004. These five patients had 13, 10, 13, 12, and 6 donors, respectively (totally 54 donors were found). We proved the healthy state in 68.5&#x0025; (37 of 54) of our donors population. Of them, 81&#x0025; were repeated donors and 17 of 54 donors (31.5&#x0025;) could not be traced (because of change in addresses). We did not have any HCV new cases after 2004. Conclusion: We could not prove HCV transmission from donors as the source of infection. Although parenteral transmission is always on top of the list in HCV infection, the possibility of hospital and/or nursing personnel transmission and/or patient-to-patient transmission such as use of common instruments like subcutaneous Desferal&#174; infusion pumps; which the patients used for iron chelation therapy, should also be kept in mind