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MCGILL STUDY SUGGESTS WAYS TO MAKE GIVING BLOOD EASIER | |
| Contact: Blaine Ditto Phone: 514-398-6097 Email: blaine.ditto@mcgill.ca Embargoed until: March 6, 2004 |
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Orlando, FL - How could more people be encouraged to give blood? The blood supply depends on the generosity of volunteer donors who literally roll up their sleeves to help. But turning a first-time donor into someone who may give blood dozens of times in their lifetime depends a lot on their initial experience. The results of a study presented at the American Psychosomatic Society Annual Meeting suggest that a simple muscle tensing technique may help. While only a minority of donors feel dizzy or weak after giving blood, research has shown that the experience of these and other symptoms makes them less likely to give blood again, even if they have positive attitudes about the importance of giving blood. A research team led by Dr. Blaine Ditto of McGill University (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) and Dr. Christopher France of Ohio University (Athens, Ohio) has found a technique called Applied Muscle Tension useful in reducing blood donation-related symptoms in some donors. In this study, the team found a similar reduction in symptoms reported by young French-speaking Canadian men and women who practiced Applied Tension while giving blood. The donors also rated their chances of returning to give blood again as higher. These findings suggest that Applied Muscle Tension might help people from many cultural backgrounds. It is also encouraging that the technique helped young donors - those who are most likely to experience symptoms yet, if they have a good experience, people who might give blood for many years. | |
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Psychosomatic Medicine is the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Psychosomatic Society, published bimonthly. For information about the journal, contact Vicki White, Managing Editor for Manuscript Production,
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