How perceptions of bone marrow donation costs affect donation behavior: survey evidence from a large donor registry

Michael Haylock (), Patrick Kampkötter (), Mario Macis (), Susanne Seitz (), Robert Slonim (), Edith Wienand (), Daniel Wiesen () and Alexander H. Schmidt ()
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Michael Haylock: CINCH Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen
Patrick Kampkötter: Eberhard Karls University Tübingen
Mario Macis: Johns Hopkins University, Carey Business School, IZA, and NBER
Susanne Seitz: DKMS Group gGmbH Tübingen
Robert Slonim: University of Technology Sydney and IZA
Edith Wienand: DKMS Group gGmbH Tübingen
Daniel Wiesen: University of Cologne, Department of Health Care Management and Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management
Alexander H. Schmidt: DKMS Group gGmbH Tübingen

The European Journal of Health Economics, 2025, vol. 26, issue 9, No 7, 1613-1631

Abstract: Abstract Over the past three decades, advancements in collection methods for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation substantially reduced invasiveness and safety concerns. To what extent, however, registered donors are informed about extraction methods and how their beliefs drive their willingness to follow through with a donation is not well understood. Inaccurate beliefs about extraction methods may cause donors to overestimate their perceived cost, potentially reducing donations. In a survey with about 24,000 potential donors in Germany’s largest stem-cell registry, we investigate how beliefs about extraction methods affect potential donors’ willingness to follow through with a stem cell donation. We find widespread misconceptions about extraction methods, with many donors attributing a significant fraction of stem cell extractions to be coming from never-used methods. Importantly, a lack of knowledge and misconceptions about extraction methods persist among registered donors, often anchored to methods that prevailed at the time of registration. Exploring the link between donors’ beliefs and their (stated) willingness to donate, we find that accurate beliefs about lower extraction costs correlate with a 2.2–2.9 percentage points higher willingness to donate, representing a 40% reduction in donor unavailability. Our results highlight the need for informational campaigns to correct donors’ misconceptions and potentially save more lives among blood cancer patients.

Keywords: Unrelated stem cell donation; Information; Stem cell extraction methods; Perceived costs; Availability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10198-025-01785-4

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