Caring for Those Who Share: Improving the Health of Wisconsin Blood Donors

NCT00772083 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PRO00008944
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 400
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Blood donors are a precious community resource. Each month at Blood Center of Wisconsin (BCW), 200 men and 600 women over age 50 are turned away ("deferred") because of anemia. In those over 50, anemia may signal serious underlying disease such as colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC is the #3 cause of cancer death in Wisconsin with more than 1,000 deaths in 2006. Yet with proper testing CRC outcomes can be improved by early diagnosis. This project will focus on a population of deferred older blood donors to develop and test educational materials that will motivate donors to seek medical attention for their anemia, so that the underlying cause is diagnosed and treated. This project has the potential to lead to better CRC outcomes in Wisconsin blood donors.

Conditions

Anemia; Colorectal Cancer

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• self-reported seeking of medical care for diagnosis of anemia found at time of blood donation

  3 months

Study Arms (2)

1

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Educational brochure

2

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

standard approach currently being used

Behavioral: Standard pamphlet

Interventions

Educational brochure BEHAVIORAL

This brochure will educate anemic blood donors regarding the possible causes of their anemia, and based on age will make recommendations for who should seek consultation with a physician.

1

Standard pamphlet BEHAVIORAL

The BloodCenter of Wisconsin's default action when a potential donor has been found to be anemic is to provide a standard pamphlet with very basic nutritional information.

2

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• adult blood donors who have been "deferred" (not allowed to donate) due to low blood count, specifically all male donors found to have hematocrit \< 38% and to all female donors over 50 years old found to have hematocrit \< 36%

You may not qualify if:

• deferred donors who have previously donated more than 3 times in the past year, as their anemia is more likely due to frequent donation
• women less than 50 years old

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medical College of Wisconsin: lead
• Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program: collaborator
• Versiti Blood Health: collaborator
• National Anemia Action Council: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

BloodCenter of Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53201, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anemia; Colorectal Neoplasms

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hematologic Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Intestinal Neoplasms; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Colonic Diseases; Intestinal Diseases; Rectal Diseases

Study Officials

• Kenneth G Schellhase, MD MPH

  Medical College of Wisconsin

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Alan Mast, MD PHD

  Versiti Blood Health

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 13, 2008
• First Posted: October 15, 2008
• Study Start: November 1, 2008
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2009
• Study Completion: June 1, 2009
• Last Updated: August 11, 2010

Record last verified: 2010-08

Locations

US (1)