Comparison of factors influencing the willingness to donate biospecimens among guardians of children with cancer and adult cancer patients

Hongxiang Gao; Baige Cao; Nan Dang; Song Gu; Min Xu; Bin Ji; Yiqi Shi; Shijian Liu; Congrong Wang

doi:10.1002/cam4.4544

Comparison of factors influencing the willingness to donate biospecimens among guardians of children with cancer and adult cancer patients

Cancer Med. 2022 Mar;11(6):1524-1534. doi: 10.1002/cam4.4544. Epub 2022 Feb 3.

Authors

Hongxiang Gao¹, Baige Cao², Nan Dang³, Song Gu¹, Min Xu¹, Bin Ji⁴, Yiqi Shi⁵, Shijian Liu^{6

7}, Congrong Wang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatric General Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
² Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
³ Department of Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
⁴ Department of Operating Room, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
⁵ Clinical Research Center for Cell Therapy, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
⁶ Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Pediatric Health Advocacy Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
⁷ School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Background: This study examined and compared the attitudes and willingness of guardians of children with cancer and adult cancer patients toward donating biospecimens and clinical data for cancer research.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among guardians of children with cancer (Guardian group) from Shanghai Children's Medical Center and adult cancer patients (Adult group) from Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital between February 1, 2019, and January 31, 2020. Participants' demographic data, willingness, and motivations for biospecimen donation were collected and analyzed.

Results: Of 670 participants, 90.8% (318/350) in the Guardian group and 88.1% (282/320) in the Adult group completed the questionnaire. Most participants were willing to donate residual tissue samples (92.8% in the Guardian group vs. 79.4% in the Adult group, p^ψ = 0.032) and clinical data (94.0% vs. 72.3%, p^ψ < 0.001) for medical research. Logistic regression analysis indicated that only child status (odds ratio [OR] = 0.140, p = 0.02), history of blood donation (OR = 4.467, p = 0.019) in the Guardian group, education (OR = 0.387, p = 0.037), and history of blood donation (OR = 2.556, p = 0.016) in the Adult group were significantly associated with participants' willingness to donate biospecimens. The primary motivation for donation was helping other patients with cancer (65.4% vs. 24.5%, p^ψ < 0.001). The major barriers to donation were the potential to cause physical discomfort (61.0% vs. 64.9%, p^ψ = 0.032).

Conclusions: Guardians of children with cancer were more willing to donate biospecimens than adult cancer patients in China. It is essential to promote awareness of biospecimens donation, especially in adult cancer patients.

Keywords: adult cancer patient; biospecimen donation; cancer research; childhood cancer patient.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Biological Specimen Banks
Child
China
Cross-Sectional Studies
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Neoplasms*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Tissue and Organ Procurement*