Importance of information provision in the acceptance of blood donation criteria by the general public in Belgium.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Blood transfusions save lives, but carry the risk of causing transfusion-transmitted diseases. This risk is limited by strict donor selection criteria, the most controversial being the exclusion of men who had sex with men (MSM). This cross-sectional study investigated knowledge and beliefs of the general public concerning donor exclusion criteria, with emphasis on MSM. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A representative sample of the population of Flanders, Belgium was questioned using a web-based questionnaire. The effect of additional information on people's opinions was tested. RESULTS:People were less aware of the exclusion of MSM than of other risk populations, e.g. prostitutes. Correspondingly, they were more willing to accept blood from MSM than from other risk populations. MSM were

SUBMITTER: Avau B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6214823 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature