Clinical trial NCT04783077: Community-Based Communication Approaches for Blood Donation in Ghana
Official title: Community-Based Communication Approaches for Blood Donation in Ghana
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Blood Donors
Keywords: Blood donation
Lead sponsor: University of Minnesota
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
name: National Blood Service Ghana
name: University of Ghana
name: Syracuse University
name: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
First posted: 2021-03-05
Enrollment: 144
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: A pilot stratified randomized control trials of WhatsApp compared to control and docudrama (before/after) among first time donors.
Primary purpose: OTHER

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.


Eligibility criteria: 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

Exclusion Criteria:

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

Primary outcomes:
measure: Donation Attempt
timeFrame: 6 Months and 34 days
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Accra
country: Ghana
facility: National Blood Service Ghana
Study officials:
References: