TABLE 3.

Mitigating discomfort in donors

What?	Why?	How?
Providing an explanation for the questions	To ensure that donors understand the relevance of the SBB questions to blood safety To explain how the sexual behaviour based questions may increase equity in blood donation To explain what happens based on the answer to sexual behavior questions (e.g., deferral? additional testing?) To explain the rationale for the progression of sexual behavior questions	Group all sexual behavior questions together in the DQ and provide a short explanation in the DQ prior to these questions Ensure that explanations are nonstigmatizing and nonjudgmental of sexual activities and sexual identities Offer a range of explanations from very brief to detailed scientific evidence Provide comprehensive staff training to ensure staff can provide clear explanations for the questions Provide comprehensive staff training to ensure staff are comfortable discussing sexual activities in a nonstigmatizing and nonjudgmental manner
Providing forewarning of questions	To inform donors and prospective donors of questions to be asked to shape expectations To enable donors to self‐defer if they would answer “yes” to the questions (i.e., the questions would screen them out)	Ensure a comprehensive communications plan to donors and prospective donors prior to implementation
Reducing ambiguity in questions	To decrease the need for donors to clarify with staff the meaning of terms in the questions To increase clarity and understanding of the specific behaviours that the blood operator is trying to identify To encourage greater accuracy in answers	Implement questions that are clear and specific Provide online and hardcopy materials that clarify potentially ambiguous terms in sexual behavior questions Provide comprehensive staff training to ensure staff can clarify and explain the terms used in the questions
Answering questions in a self‐administered format	To enable donors to answer sexual behavior questions in a way that mitigates discomfort and supports a feeling of personal privacy	Implement sexual behavior questions in a self‐administered format (e.g., web‐based app) Minimize staff‐mediated administration of sexual behavior questions