Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Comparative studies are missing that explore how socio-cultural and institutional circumstances influence patient comprehension and expectations regarding informed consent for current and future research on their tissue and data. This study compares how breast cancer patients in three European countries (the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Germany) who have consented to participate in tumor banking assess the given consent and the accompanying local contextual factors influencing it. Our survey demonstrates that only 59% of the patients in the British survey, but about 90% in the German and Belgian surveys, correctly recalled tissue and data donation for study purposes. Of those who remembered the study participation status correctly, about 90% had altruistic motives. At the same time, approximately half of the survey participants, or even 70% of the Belgians, expected personal benefit from research participation and information on cancer risk within the family. About half of the interviewees, but only 27% of the British participants, definitively wanted to be asked for re-consent for future research. Of the local contextual factors under study, participants' appraisals of medical science and data protection were particularly pertinent. More culturally and contextually sensitive comparative research is needed to better understand patient attitudes toward research participation and tissue donation in the context of biobank research.

Original publication

DOI

10.1177/1556264614540600

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics

Publication Date

07/2014

Volume

9

Pages

48 - 55

Keywords

biobank, breast cancer, genetic research, individualized medicine, informed consent, international study, Altruism, Attitude, Belgium, Biological Specimen Banks, Biomedical Research, Breast Neoplasms, Comprehension, Confidentiality, Female, Germany, Humans, Informed Consent, Mental Recall, Patients, Perception, Privacy, Surveys and Questionnaires, Tissue Donors, Tissue and Organ Procurement, United Kingdom