INCREASING PARTICIPATION OF BLOOD-DONORS IN A BONE-MARROW REGISTRY

In an experiment to increase recruitment of unrelated bone-marrow dono rs, Ss were selected from a list of people who had donated blood withi n the past 24 months. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups. Members of the experimental group, 2 months before receiving a mailed brochur e about a bone-marrow registry, were complimented on being blood donor s and asked to complete a self-descriptive questionnaire. One control group received only the mailed brochure, and the other did not receive any mailing. The experimental group joined the registry at over 2 tim es the control-group rates. These results appear to be attributable to an attitude change associated with being recognized as a special grou p that contributed to the community's welfare.