Exploring the Impact of Digital Health Tools in Enhancing Quality of Life and Psychological Adjustment in Long-term Blood Donors: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Blood donation plays a critical role in public health, yet long-term donors (donating at least twice per year, for at least three years) often face challenges related to psychological adjustment and quality of life. Digital health tools could offer innovative solutions to address these issues by providing personalized support, tracking, and mental health interventions.

AIM

This study investigates the impact of digital health tools on the quality of life (QoL) and psychological adjustment of long-term blood donors in Saudi Arabia, with attention to demographic factors influencing engagement and perceptions.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 498 long-term blood donors aged 18-60, recruited from blood donation centers across Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited through social media platforms, university networks, and professional organizations to ensure a diverse sample in terms of background, long-term donation history (more than 10 times), and daily digital usage habits. Participants completed an online questionnaire incorporating the WHO Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) and Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE) inventory to assess QoL and coping mechanisms. Descriptive statistics, two-sample t-tests, and ANOVA analyses were performed to examine differences in perceptions based on age, gender, and educational level.

RESULTS

The findings indicate a generally positive perception of digital health tools, with mean QoL scores for self-distraction (Mean ± SD: 3.33 ± 0.97), active coping (3.29 ± 0.97), and psychological well-being (3.31 ± 0.82). Significant differences were observed across age groups, with older participants reporting higher perceived benefits ( p < .0001). Gender differences were also significant, with females showing higher mean scores in psychological adjustment factors such as active coping (3.75 ± 0.62) compared to males (2.8 ± 0.81), p < .0001.

CONCLUSION

Digital health tools are perceived as beneficial for supporting QoL and psychological adjustment among blood donors, particularly for emotional and health management. Demographic factors such as age, gender, and education play a significant role in shaping these perceptions, highlighting the need for tailored interventions. Further research should explore longitudinal impacts to inform the design of more effective, culturally aligned digital health solutions for donor support.