Community-Based Communication Approaches for Blood Donation in Ghana

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Blood Donors
• Interventions: Behavioral: Control; Behavioral: WhatsApp; Behavioral: Docudrama

• Registration Number: NCT04783077
• Lead Sponsor: University of Minnesota

Brief Summary

DESIGN This pilot study utilizes a mixed-methods approach to develop a novel docu- drama communication strategy, design WhatsApp intervention, evaluate the feasibility of a larger pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the two communication strategies and assess acceptability of the communication strategies aimed to increase blood donation among first-time blood donors within the catchment areas of the Southern Zonal Blood Centre (SZBC) in Ghana. In sequence, this pilot study and larger RCT are grounded in the PRECEDE-PROCEED implementation science framework. The pilot study has four components: 1) a qualitative component will be used to design a docu-drama, 2) key informant interviews to guide intervention development, 3) a simultaneous randomized pilot trial will evaluate the feasibility of the larger trial design of communication interventions using WhatsApp compared to control, and 4) a final mixed- methods (quantitative survey and focus groups) assessment of participant views of acceptability, effectiveness, feasibility and cultural appropriateness of the two proposed communication interventions.

OBJECTIVES The three objectives of this pilot study are the careful design of a novel docu- drama communication intervention and WhatsApp intervention, evaluation of the feasibility of a larger RCT of communication strategies, and assessment of participant views of the two proposed communication interventions and control among first time blood donors within the catchment areas of the SZBC.

For the purposes of registration for clinicaltrials.gov only the randomized pilot trial communication interventions using WhatsApp compared to control is reported.

The planned sample size for the pilot RCT is n=128 first-time blood donors.

The study population for the pilot RCT is first-time voluntary non-remunerated blood donors (VNRBD) and family/replacement blood donors (FRD) from the SZBC catchment area.

REGIMEN WhatsApp: Participants assigned to the WhatsApp group will receive weekly messages developed by communication specialists aimed to motivate blood donation, be encouraged to discuss their blood donation experiences, and share their own motivations for donating blood in a moderated, closed group over a six-month duration. The moderator will provide guidelines on acceptable use of WhatsApp in the group, including images they can or cannot share. Participants will also receive standard NBSG communications for first-time donors.

Control: Participants in this group will receive the standard NBSG communications for first-time donors: 1) a thank you phone call and 2) and a reminder phone call two-weeks prior to the second blood donation eligibility. The second blood donation eligibility is four months after the first donation.

Detailed Description

Not available

Basic Information
|
Recruitment & Eligibility
|
Study & Design
|
Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-02-26
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-03-02
• Study First Posted: 2021-03-05
• Study Start: 2021-11-02
• Primary Completion: 2022-09-25
• Study Completion: 2023-09-25
• Results First Submitted: 2023-10-16
• Status Verified: 2024-01
• Results First Submitted QC: 2024-01-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-01-09
• Results First Posted: 2024-01-10
• Last Update Posted: 2024-01-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 144

Inclusion Criteria

• At least 18 years-old
• First-time whole blood donor with the SZBC of the NBSG
• Eligible to donate again
• Consent to participate
• Understands one of English, Twi, or Ga
• Have a smart phone
• Have, or be willing to sign up for an active WhatsApp account

Read More

Exclusion Criteria

• History of more than one lifetime whole blood donation (with any blood centre)

Read More

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
VNRBD Control	Control	-
FRD WhatsApp	WhatsApp	-
VNRBD WhatsApp	WhatsApp	-
FRD Control	Control	-
Docudrama	Docudrama	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Donation Attempt	6 Months and 34 days	Blood donation attempt at any time during follow-up. The planned follow-up (i.e., final assessment) was at 6-months and 2 weeks from randomization. However, the local protocol IRB approval lapsed between 25 April 2022 and 23 May 2022 during which time participants were unable to receive WhatsApp messaging. In response, the final follow-up window was extended by 34 days for all participants, so the participants in the WhatsApp arm would receive all planned messages.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Blood Service Ghana; 🇬🇭 Accra, Ghana