Computer‐assisted audiovisual health history self‐interviewing Results of the pilot study of the Hoxworth Quality Donor System

www.transfusion.org BACKGROUND: The safety of blood for transfusion depends, in part, on the reliability of the health history given by volunteer blood donors. To improve reliability, a pilot study evaluated the use of an interactive computer-based audiovisual donor interviewing system at a typical midwestern blood center in the United States. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: An interactive video screening system was tested in a community donor center environment on 395 volunteer blood donors. Of the donors using the system, 277 completed surveys regarding their acceptance of and opinions about the system. RESULTS: The study showed that an interactive computer-based audiovisual donor screening system was an effective means of conducting the donor health history. The majority of donors found the system understandable and favored the system over a face-to-face interview. Further, most donors indicated that they would be more likely to return if they were to be screened by such a system. CONCLUSION: Interactive computer-based audiovisual blood donor screening is useful and well accepted by donors; it may prevent a majority of errors and accidents that are reportable to the FDA; and it may contribute to increased safety and availability of the blood supply. T he safety of the nation’s blood supply depends primarily on the recruitment of low-risk donors and the effective testing of donated blood. Although estimated transfusion risks from known pathogens are extremely small, 1,2 risks remain when donations are made within the window period and if pathogens are present for which no tests exist. Minimizing these risks depends on the selection of donors whose demographic and personal behavior characteristics place them at low risk for blood-borne diseases. The effectiveness of current blood donor recruitment is evidenced by the low prevalence of known pathogens among first-time donors. Rates of confirmed-positive markers of blood-borne diseases among first-time donors range from 0.3 percent for HIV to 1.8 percent for HCV; these rates are much lower than those among the general population. 3-6 Education, selective recruitment, and donor screen