Blood donation is an essential part of emergency medical care, with blood transfusions playing a crucial role in saving lives and improving patients’ quality of life. A recent cross-sectional study at Nishtar Medical University, Multan, Pakistan, assessed medical students’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding voluntary blood donation (VBD).
The study surveyed 316 medical students between May and August 2025 using a 48-item self-administered questionnaire covering demographics, knowledge, attitude and blood donation practices. The researchers used statistical tests including the chi-square test, independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA to analyse the findings.
Among the participants, 57.3% were female and 42.7% were male. The findings showed that 110 students had good knowledge of voluntary blood donation. However, significant gaps remained in specific areas of blood donation knowledge. Only 21.8% of students knew the recommended frequency for donating blood, while awareness of donation volume stood at 73.4%, the duration of the donation process at 50.3%, minimum age requirements at 16.8% and weight requirements at 41.8%.
Only 25.3% of the participants knew when postpartum mothers could safely donate blood. Schools were identified as the main source of information about blood donation, accounting for 58% of responses.
Despite gaps in knowledge, attitudes toward voluntary blood donation were generally positive. Around 72.2% of students demonstrated good attitudes toward blood donation, with the results showing no significant differences based on demographic characteristics.
However, positive attitudes did not translate into regular blood donation practices. As many as 81.1% of students had never donated blood. Among the reasons cited, health-related concerns accounted for 39.9%, while 32.4% said they had no particular reason for not donating.
The study concluded that medical students at Nishtar Medical University generally demonstrated good knowledge and positive attitudes toward voluntary blood donation, but actual donation practices remained low. The findings highlight the need for effective blood donation awareness campaigns and educational initiatives to address knowledge gaps and encourage more medical students to become regular voluntary blood donors.
Promoting voluntary blood donation among medical students could help build a stronger culture of blood donation and improve awareness of the importance of maintaining adequate blood supplies for emergencies and patients requiring transfusions.
Reference:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/413923065_Awareness_and_Willingness_of_Blood_Donation_Among_Medical_Students_of_Nishtar_Medical_University_Multan_Pakistan_A_Cross-Sectional_Descriptive_Study
