Health promotion for blood donors: A scoping review

Background: Health promotion aims to prevent chronic diseases and alleviate their impact on individuals' wellbeing. It involves empowering both individuals and communities to actively uphold optimal health. Although blood banks conventionally centre on blood donation functions, an untapped potential lies in leveraging these institutions for health enhancement through prioritized health promotion initiatives. The objective of this study is to explore how blood banks can contribute to the well-being of blood donors by integrating preventive measures as part of health promotion initiatives within their operations. Study design: Literature review. Methods: Literature Search in CINAHL, Embase, PubMed and Web of Science was conducted. Arksey and O'Malley (2015) framework was used with incorporated recommendations stated by Levac, Colquhoun, and O'Brien (2010) following an iterative process of six stages, starting with identifying the research question, identifying relevant studies, study selection, charting the data, collating, summarizing, and reporting the results, and consult experts. Results: The 20 incorporated studies showed a range of health screenings and health promoting activities, that expand the traditional scope of blood bank addressing blood-related conditions, encompassing assessments for conditions related to blood as well as health screenings. These screenings included examinations for cancer and diabetes, with the predominant focus being on cardiovascular risk assessment. Conclusion: This review highlights the implementation of health initiatives by blood banks, focusing on improving well-being and preventing diseases. These initiatives have the potential to act as gateways for community-based interventions and possibilities for enhancing both the blood supply and individual health. The effectiveness of these interventions is contingent upon the context of each blood bank and its target donor group. Therefore, tailoring interventions to align with specific contexts and facilitating factors is crucial for optimizing health promotion efforts tailored to the diverse needs of different donor groups.