Abstract 1441P
Background
Physical risks from hematopoietic stem cell donation have been well described, but less is known about psychological aspects of becoming a stem cell donor. In a cross-sectional national survey study, we investigate pre-donation worries and investigate associations between characteristics of prospective donors and psychological well-being.
Methods
A questionnaire was sent to 345 consecutive potential adult stem cell donors at all six Swedish stem cell transplantation centres, from April 2019 to May 2020. The questionnaire consisted of study-specific questions regarding pre-donation worries about the recipient and themselves as donors, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the SF12 health survey. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the association between donor characteristics; pre-donation worry about oneself, pre-donation worry about the recipient, relationship to the recipient, gender, age, being a cohabitant and physical health, and three outcome variables; anxiety (HADS-A), depression (HADS-D) and mental health (SF-12 mental health score).
Results
With a response rate of 61%, 210 participants were included; 47% related and 53% unrelated to the recipient. Of participants, 39% reported great worry about the recipient and 12% great worry about themselves as potential donors. 21% reported increased anxiety (>8 on HADS-A) and 6% increased symptoms of depression (>8 on HADS-D). Participants’ mean SF12 mental health score was 49.5, below the 52.9 average of the Swedish population. In multivariable regression models, great worry about oneself (2.6 points), lower age (0.8 points /10 years) and female gender (1.2 points) were associated with increased HADS-A score. Great worry about oneself (-4.3 points), lower age (-2.1 points/ 10 years) and female gender (-2.6 points) were associated with lower SF-12 mental health score. No significant association between included variables and HADS-D depression score was found.
Conclusions
A small proportion of potential haematopoietic stem cell donors report great pre-donation worries. Greater pre-donation worry about oneself, lower age and female gender are independently associated with lower psychological well-being.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Uppsala University, Sweden.
Funding
Swedish Cancer Society.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.