Although blood donation takes place in a medical setting within the larger healthcare system, little is known about how (perceptions of) these healthcare systems shape an individual’s decision to donate. In this study, Caroline, Bianca, Pamela and Eva examined how public trust in the healthcare system and indicators of healthcare quality relate to individuals’ likelihood of donating blood across Europe. You can find the preprint HERE and if you don't have time to read here are the main takeaways:
Individuals living in European countries where trust in the healthcare system is higher were more likely to have donated blood.
There was no clear evidence that healthcare quality predicted blood donation behavior.
Overall, subjective perceptions of the healthcare system (i.e., public trust), rather than the objective state of healthcare, play a role in blood donation behavior.