1.
A randomized trial to evaluate the use of text messaging, letter, and telephone call reminders to improve return of blood donors with reactive serologic tests
Porto-Ferreira FA, de Almeida-Neto C, Murphy EL, Montebello SC, Nogueira FA, Koga da Silva EM, MacFarland W, Custer B
Transfusion. 2016;57((1):):102-107
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Low return rates for notification and counseling among donors with reactive serologic screening tests have been reported worldwide. A randomized trial to test the effectiveness of text message, letter, or telephone call reminders to improve return among nonresponding first-time blood donors with reactive serologic tests was conducted. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Donors with serologically reactive screening test results who had a cell phone and resided in the metropolitan telephone area code of Sao Paulo in the period from August 2013 through July 2014 were eligible. A consecutive sample of first-time donors with reactive screening tests who had not responded to a standard letter requesting the donor return to the blood center were randomly assigned to receive a text, a new letter, or a telephone call requesting return for notification and counseling. Return rates were measured over the subsequent 30 days. RESULTS The return rate after a phone call reminder was better than that for a text message (39.8% vs. 28.4%; odds ratio [OR], 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-2.64) but not better than that for a letter (39.8% vs. 34.4%; OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.80-1.99). Older age was a predictor of higher rate of return with each year increase in age associated with a 2% increase in the odds of return (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04). CONCLUSION In nonresponding serologic reactive donors, telephone call led to a higher return rate than text message. The results of this study suggest that use of text messages, while attractive for its simplicity, will not lead to increased donor notification success after serologically reactive marker results from blood donation in Brazil.
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Water administration and the risk of syncope and presyncope during blood donation: a randomized clinical trial
van den Berg K, Lam J, Bruhn R, Custer B, Murphy EL
Transfusion. 2012;52((12):):2577-84.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Blood centers rely heavily on adolescent donors to meet blood demand, but presyncope and syncope are more frequent in younger donors. Studies have suggested administration of water before donation may reduce syncope and/or presyncope in this group. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a randomized, controlled trial to establish the effect of preloading with 500mL of water on the rate of syncope and presyncope in adolescent donors. School collection sites in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were randomized to receive water or not. Incidence of syncope and presyncope was compared between randomization groups using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Of 2464 study participants, 1337 received water and 1127 did not; groups differed slightly by sex and race. Syncope or presyncope was seen in 23 (1.7%) of the treatment and 18 (1.6%) of the control arm subjects. After adjusting for race, sex, age, and donation history, there was no difference in outcome between the water versus no water arms (adjusted odds ratio [OR],0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42-1.53). Black donors had sevenfold lower odds of syncope or presyncope than their white counterparts (adjusted OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.04-0.47). CONCLUSION Preloading adolescent donors with 500mL of water did not have a major effect in reducing syncope and presyncope in South African adolescent donors. Our adolescent donors had lower overall syncope and presyncope rates than similar populations in the United States, limiting the statistical power of the study. We confirmed much lower rates of syncope and presyncope among young black donors. 2012 American Association of Blood Banks.
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A randomized trial of blood donor recruitment strategies
Reich P, Roberts P, Laabs N, Chinn A, McEvoy P, Hirschler N, Murphy EL
Transfusion. 2006;46((7):):1090-6.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Improvement in donor return rates, especially among first-time donors, may significantly improve the blood supply. There are few rigorous studies of the effectiveness of various approaches to donor recruitment, however. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS By use of a single-blind, randomized trial design, 6919 post-September 11, 2001, first-time donors were randomly assigned into the following intervention arms: T-shirt incentive versus none, recruitment scripts with a patient story (Script A) versus a complimentary message including the donor's blood type (Script B), and telephone versus e-mail recruitment. Our primary outcome was a second donation within 6 months. Rate ratios (RRs) and 95 percent confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated with Taylor series methods. RESULTS A total of 1421 (20. 5%) first-time donors returned within the 6 months, including 1252 with a second and 169 with both second and third donations. The T-shirt incentive was not effective in increasing returns compared to no incentive (20. 5% vs. 20. 6%; RR, 0. 99; 95% CI, 0. 91-1. 09). Script A was significantly more effective than Script B (22. 2% vs. 18. 9%; RR, 1. 18; 95% CI, 1. 07-1. 29). E-mail was substantially less effective than telephone recruitment (13. 2% vs. 27. 8%; RR, 0. 48; 95% CI, 0. 40-0. 57). CONCLUSIONS A T-shirt incentive had no apparent effect, but an empathetic message significantly improved the return donation rate. E-mail recruitment was substantially less effective than telephone recruitment, perhaps due to technical problems. The study illustrates the utility of the randomized clinical trial study design for testing donor recruitment strategies.
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Leukocyte-reduced red blood cell transfusions in patients with anemia and human immunodeficiency virus infection: the Viral Activation Transfusion Study: a randomized controlled trial
Collier AC, Kalish LA, Busch MP, Gernsheimer T, Assmann SF, Lane TA, Asmuth DM, Lederman MM, Murphy EL, Kumar P, et al
Jama. 2001;285((12):):1592-601.
Abstract
CONTEXT Allogeneic blood transfusions have immunomodulatory effects and have been associated with activation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in vitro and of HIV in small pilot studies. Retrospective studies suggest that transfusions adversely affect the clinical course of HIV. Data in selected non-HIV-infected patients requiring blood transfusion have suggested clinical benefit with leukocyte-reduced red blood cells (RBCs). OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of leukoreduced and unmodified RBC transfusions on survival, complications of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and relevant laboratory markers in HIV-infected patients. DESIGN AND SETTING Double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in 11 US academic medical centers from July 1995 through June 1999, with a median follow-up of 12 months (24 months in survivors). PATIENTS A total of 531 persons infected with HIV and CMV, aged 14 years or older, who required transfusions for anemia; 259 received leukoreduced transfusions and 262 received unmodified transfusions (10 did not receive the planned transfusion). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Survival and change in plasma HIV RNA level 7 days after transfusion, compared by type of transfusion. RESULTS At entry, the groups were similar in demographic, clinical, and relevant laboratory characteristics. A total of 3864 RBC units were transfused. Two hundred eighty-nine deaths occurred (151 with leukoreduced transfusion; 138 with unmodified transfusion); median survival was 13.0 and 20.5 months, respectively (relative hazard [RH], 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.51; log-rank P =.12). Analyses adjusted for prognostic factors suggested possible worse survival with leukoreduction (RH, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.06-1.72). There was no difference in time to new opportunistic event/death or frequency of transfusion reactions. No changes in plasma HIV RNA level were seen in either group at days 7, 14, 21, or 28, even in patients not taking antiretroviral drugs. There were no differences in trends between groups in CMV DNA, CD4 cell counts, activated (CD38% or human leukocyte antigen-DR) CD8 cell counts, or plasma cytokine levels. CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence of HIV, CMV, or cytokine activation following blood transfusion in patients with advanced HIV infection. Leukoreduction provided no clinical benefit in these patients. These data demonstrate the importance of conducting controlled studies of effects of leukoreduction in different patient populations, since smaller studies in other patient populations have suggested leukoreduction may be beneficial.