Qualitative assessment of pica experienced by frequent blood donors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pica, the compulsive consumption of ice or other nonnutritious substances, is associated with iron deficiency, a common negative consequence of frequent blood donation. Because of this, blood donors, such as those participating in the Strategies to Reduce Iron Deficiency (STRIDE) study, are an ideal population to explore pica and iron deficiency.

Study design and methods

STRIDE was a 2-year intervention trial to assess the effectiveness of iron supplementation for mitigating iron deficiency in frequent blood donors. Subjects completed baseline and follow-up questionnaires that included questions about pica symptoms. In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with 14 of these subjects reporting pica symptoms and eight presumed controls (casual ice chewers) to gai

SUBMITTER: Chansky MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5457161 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature