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The official websites of blood centers in China: A nationwide cross-sectional study

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  • Huiying Hu
  • Jing Wang
  • Ming Zhu

Abstract

Background: Blood collection agencies worldwide are facing ongoing and increasing medical demands for blood products. Many potential donors would search related information online before making decision of whether or not to donate blood. However, there is little knowledge of the online information and services provided by blood centers in China, despite the constantly increase of internet users. Our research investigates the number of blood centers’ official websites and their quality, and highlights the deficiencies that required future advances. Methods: Identified official websites of blood centers were scored using a newly developed evaluation instrument with 42 items concerning technical aspects, information quality, information comprehensiveness and interactive services. Scores of websites were compared between blood centers with different level (provincial vs. regional blood centers) and location (blood centers located in economically developed vs. developing region). Results: For the 253 working official websites all the 350 blood centers in China, and the mean overall score of websites was 24.7 out of 42. 79.1% websites were rated as fair (50–75% of maximum), 5.5% as good (≥75% of maximum) and 15.4% as poor(25–50% of maximum;). Websites got very low sub-scores in information quality (mean = 3.8; range 1–8; maximum = 9) and interactive services (3.3; 0–10; 10). Higher proportions of provincial (vs. regional) blood centers and economically developed (vs. developing) blood centers had official websites (p = 0.044 and p = 0.001; respectively) with better overall quality (p

Suggested Citation

  • Huiying Hu & Jing Wang & Ming Zhu, 2017. "The official websites of blood centers in China: A nationwide cross-sectional study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(8), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0182748
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182748
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Zhang, Xiaobo & Kanbur, Ravi, 2005. "Spatial inequality in education and health care in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(2), pages 189-204.
    3. Adams, Vincanne & Erwin, Kathleen & Le, Phuoc V., 2009. "Public health works: Blood donation in urban China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(3), pages 410-418, February.
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