A descriptive phenomenological analysis of the experience of blood donation as a regular donor. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sugden, Natalie; King, Nigel
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 26:Number 11(2021)
• Page Start: 1821
• Page End: 1832
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: experience -- health promotion -- phenomenology -- public health psychology -- qualitative methods; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105319890014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

Maintaining adequate blood supplies requires the recruitment of a significant number of regular donors. However, research examining the first-hand experience of blood donation from the perspective of regular donors is very limited. This study sought to describe the essential features of this experience from the accounts of 10 regular donors, analysed using Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological method. Eight essential themes contributed to the fundamental structure of the experience, emphasising issues of blood donor identity, comfortable routine, feeling good helping others and human connectedness and interaction in the donation process. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.