SHEPEARD COMMUNITY

BLOOD CENTER
SENIOR PROJECT
PATRICE JEAN-PIERRE
COMMUNITY HEALTH STUDENT

PROJECT

Description: To determine the appropriate operating hours for the

three fixed blood donor locations with the use of focus groups as
qualitative research

Augusta

Evans

Components:
Focus Groups (3)
2014 2015 Data Analysis

Aiken

WHAT IS A FOCUS
GROUP?

Definition: a group of individuals selected and assembled by

researchers to discuss and comment on, from personal
experience(s), the topic that is the subject of the research.
(Powell et al, 1996: 499)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLw0YXcseG0

WHY A FOCUS
GROUP?
The main purpose of focus group research is to draw upon
respondents attitudes, feelings, beliefs, experiences, and
reactions in a way in which would not be feasible using other
methods such as:
Observation
One on one interviewing
Questionnaire surveys

Gibbs, A. (n.d.). Social Research Update 19: Focus

Groups. Retrieved April 8, 2016, from
http://sru.soc.surrey.ac.uk/SRU19.html

PROJECT: 4 STEP
PROCESS
STEP 1: Plan/Design Focus Group
STEP 2: Recruit Individuals
STEP 3: Conduct Focus Groups
STEP 4: Analyze Data

STEP 1: PLAN/DESIGN FOCUS

GROUPS
Locations & Times for Focus Groups
Augusta March 8th (conference room)
Evans March 15th (conference room)
Aiken March 22nd (Red Pepper Caf)

STEP 1: PLAN/DESIGN
FOCUS GROUPS
Points Submitted for Query
Whole blood donors (red cells)
Lapsed donors (back 3 years max)
Active donors

Age ranges
24 and under
25 39
40 60
60+
Gender

STEP 2: RECRUIT
INDIVIDUALS
Trial 1
Tele recruiting
Trial 2
Front desk staff
Face-to-face invitation
Augusta Center 8 recruited
Evans Center 18 recruited
Aiken Center 24 recruited
NOTE: Tried to invite a minimum of 20 individuals to each group

Invitations shown and

sent out via email to
donors

STEP 3: CONDUCT
FOCUS GROUPS
First Group
1. When do you normally decide to give blood?
2. Who or what influences your decision to donate?
3. Have you donated blood on a mobile or at a center? Both?
Which one is better for you?
4. Was your last donation given on a mobile or at a center?
5. When you decide to donate, what do you look for in doing this
or expect to get in return?
6. Tell us about any positive or negative experiences with
Shepeard.
7. Where else do you gift your time or do volunteer work?

STEP 3: CONDUCT
FOCUS GROUPS
Second & Third Group
1. When you first stated donating, how often did you donate?
2. When/why did you start donating more frequently?
3. If applicable, why did you decide to donate more frequently at
a center?
4. If Shepeard opened its donors just for you, what would be the
ideal day of week and time of day for you to donate? Why?
5. What is the biggest obstacle in coming to a center to donate?
6. Write down 3 things that motivate you to donate.

ACTIVITY
Think of 3 things that motivate you to donate.

STEP 3: CONDUCT
FOCUS GROUPS
Pre-Survey Questions
Are you aware of the current hours that the Shepeard Blood
Centers are open?
If so, does that impact how often you donate blood?

Are you aware of how many lives can be saved from one blood
donation?

Has Shepeard contributed to your knowledge about the blood

donation process and what is done with your donation afterwards?

Did you realize that your blood donation is needed every 56 days?

Do you gift your time or do volunteer work any other place besides
Shepeard?

YES

OR

NO

PRE-SURVEY
RESULTS

Are you aware of the current hours that the Shepeard Blood
Center are open?
Augusta

Evans

Aiken

YES

NO

80%

20%

YES

NO

67%

33%

YES

NO

64%

36%

PRE-SURVEY
RESULTS

If so, does that impact how often you donate blood?

Augusta
YES

NO

0%

100%

Evans

Aiken

YES

NO

33%

67%

YES

NO

21%

79%

PRE-SURVEY
RESULTS

Are you aware of how lives can be saved from one blood
donation?
Augusta

Evans

Aiken

YES

NO

100%

0%

YES

NO

93%

0.06%

YES

NO

93%

0.07%

PRE-SURVEY
RESULTS

Has Shepeard contributed to your knowledge about the blood

donation process and what is done with your donation
afterwards?

Augusta
YES

NO

80%

20%

Evans

Aiken

YES

NO

80%

20%

YES

NO

86%

14%

PRE-SURVEY
RESULTS

Did you realize that your blood donation is needed every 56

days?
Augusta

Evans

Aiken

YES

NO

100%

0%

YES

NO

93%

0.06%

YES

NO

86%

14%

PRE-SURVEY
RESULTS

Do you gift your time or do volunteer work any other place

besides Shepeard?
Augusta

Evans

Aiken

YES

NO

80%

20%

YES

NO

60%

40%

YES

NO

43%

57%

STEP 4: ANALYZE
DATA
Participant Turnout
Augusta = 5 participants
Evans = 15 participants
Aiken = 14 participants

CENTER
SUGGESTIONS
Augusta
N/A
Evans & Aiken
Open a little later on Saturdays
One or two nights out of the week (until 7 p.m.)

Monday Thursday; Tuesday or Thursday night

2014 - 2015
DATA ANALYSIS
Mondays

Average/Hr

AUGUSTA
Center Hours
Mon Fri

10.00
9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00

9 am 5 pm

Tuesdays

Times (by hour)

Times (by hour)

2014 - 2015
DATA ANALYSIS
Wednesdays

Average/Hr

AUGUSTA
Center Hours
Mon Fri

9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00

9 am 5 pm

Thursdays

Times (by hour)

Average/Hr

9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00

Times (by hour)

2014 2015
DATA ANALYSIS

AUGUSTA
Center Hours
Mon Fri

Fridays
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
Average/Hr

4.00
2.00
0.00

Times (by hour)

9 am 5 pm

2014 - 2015
DATA ANALYSIS
Mondays

Average/Hr

AIKEN
Center Hours

9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00

Mon Fri

9 am 5 pm

Sat

9 am 3 pm

Tuesdays
Times (by hour)

10.00
9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
Average/Hr
2.00
1.00
0.00

Times (by hour)

2014 - 2015
DATA ANALYSIS
Wednesdays

Average/Hr

AIKEN
Center Hours

9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00

Mon Fri

9 am 5 pm

Sat

9 am 3 pm

Thursdays
Times (by hour)

Average/Hr

9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00

Times (by hour)

2014 - 2015
DATA ANALYSIS
AIKEN
Center Hours

Fridays

Average/Hr

12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00

Mon Fri

9 am 5 pm

Sat

9 am 3 pm

Saturdays
Times (by hour)

Average/Hr

18.00
16.00
14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00

Times (by hour)

2014 - 2015
DATA ANALYSIS

EVANS
Center Hours

Mondays
12.00
10.00

Mon Fri

8 am 6 pm

Sat

9 am 3 pm

Sun

12 pm 5 pm

8.00
6.00
4.00
Average/Hr

2.00
0.00

Tuesdays

Times (by hour)

Average/Hr

14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00

Times (by hour)

2014 - 2015
DATA ANALYSIS
Wednesdays

Average/Hr

EVANS
Center Hours
Mon Fri

8 am 6 pm

Sat

9 am 3 pm

Sun

12 pm 5 pm

14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00

Thursdays
Times (by hour)

Average/Hr

14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00

Times (by hour)

2014 - 2015
DATA ANALYSIS
Fridays

Average/Hr

EVANS
Center Hours
Mon Fri

8 am 6 pm

Sat

9 am 3 pm

Sun

12 pm 5 pm

14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00

Saturdays

Times (by hour)

Average/Hr

30.00
25.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00

Times (by hour)

2014 - 2015
DATA ANALYSIS
Sundays
25.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
Average/Hr
5.00
0.00

Times (by hour)

EVANS
Center Hours
Mon Fri

8 am 6 pm

Sat

9 am 3 pm

Sun

12 pm 5 pm

THINGS I HAVE
LEARNED

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLFzP1D7PKk

Different types of blood donations

Allogenic
Autologous
Therapeutic
Directed
Different blood products

THINGS I HAVE
LEARNED
Health Benefits of Donating Blood
Preserves cardiovascular health
Reduces the risk of cancer
Burns calories
Your blood may flow better
Saves lives!
Mini physical (pulse, blood pressure, body temperature,
hemoglobin)

TOP 10 EXCUSES FOR

NOT DONATING BLOOD

Im afraid of needles.

Others are donating enough.

My blood type is not in demand.

Im afraid of catching a disease.

They wouldnt want my blood because of the illnesses

Ive had.

I dont have any spare blood to donate.

My blood isnt rich enough.

Im afraid of being turned down.

Theyll take too much blood and Ill feel weak.

Im too busy.

BLOOD DONATION
PROCESS

One of the visual

aids/infographics I made for my
senior project portfolio.

BLOOD FUN FACTS

What month does the President of the United States declare
National blood Donor Month?

January

BLOOD FUN FACTS

What animal is often associated with blood banks?

leech
cheetah

panda
mosquito

bat

goldfish

camel

BLOOD FUN FACTS

How many units of blood did the President Ronald Reagan
require after the assassination attempt?

8 units of red cells

3 units of plasma
+ 1 units of platelets
12 units TOTAL

BLOOD FUN FACTS

What is essential when the President travels?
Hint: Something is kept in the presidential state car

A blood bank of the

Presidents blood type

BLOOD FUN FACTS

How many miles do blood cells travel in your body?

70,000 miles
every 20
seconds

BLOOD FUN FACTS

What part of the human body does not access the bodys
blood supply?

Fallopian tubes

kidneys

lungs

liver

intestines

QUESTIONS?