Bloody Hell! Investigating Barriers to Blood Donation

The purpose of this study is to investigate barriers to blood donation. Respondents were recruited through intercepts at a major international university and at points within the community in a capital city in Australia.... [ view full abstract ]

The purpose of this study is to investigate barriers to blood donation. Respondents were recruited through intercepts at a major international university and at points within the community in a capital city in Australia. Sampling was conducted over a three week period resulting in an initial sample of 636 respondents. Results show intrinsic motivations to positively influenced intention toward blood donation, self-identity and locus of control. Nonetheless, despite positively influencing other factors, external regulation positively influenced amotivation. Hence, the more likely people feel pressured to donate blood, the less likely they feel motivated to donate blood. Therefore, one way to influence more people to become donors is to place greater focus on the positive emotional feelings they derive from the act of donating blood. Using external regulation strategy which often suggests people ‘must’ or ‘have-to’ donate blood may be limiting blood donation numbers.