JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

Abstract

Context: Blood donation is a vital life-saving endeavour facing the persistent challenge of demand consistently surpassing supply due to low donation rates. This study addresses this issue by assessing the impact of an awareness program on individuals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to blood donation. Aims: ● To assess the change in the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of blood donation among participants before and after the implementation of the awareness program. ● To determine the effectiveness of the awareness program in increasing the number of blood donors and its impact on the overall blood donation rates. Study Design: A Cross-Sectional Prospective Study conducted in a tier 2 city of Karnataka, India. Orientation programs were conducted from February to July 2023, targeting college students. Participants received information via a Google link before and after the awareness program. IBM SPSS version was utilized for data analysis. Results: The study revealed a substantial increase in awareness, evidenced by mean pre-test and post-test scores of 8.2 and 14.2, respectively. Notably, the misconception linking blood donation to HIV/AIDS was dispelled, altering the understanding of 57% of participants. Conclusions: The findings underscore the positive impact of the awareness program on college students' KAP concerning blood donation. Regular pre-donation awareness programs hold the potential to enhance donation rates and cultivate a proactive team capable of disseminating accurate information about blood donation.