Determinants of community members' willingness to donate stool for faecal microbiota transplantation

PLoS One. 2020 Dec 10;15(12):e0243751. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243751. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Universal stool banks rely on, but face difficulties recruiting, community volunteers to donate stool for faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to effectively treat recurrent Clostridioides difficile. This study sought to identify determinants of community members' willingness to donate stool to guide donor recruitment. 397 Australian residents (52% male, 47% 21-30 years, 63% university educated) completed a survey to gauge willingness to donate stool, bowel habits, information needs, attitudes, barriers, and motives for donation. Most reported regular bowel movements (BMs; 90%), morning BMs (63%), BMs ≤5 minutes duration (67%), and some discomfort doing BMs in public restrooms (69%). Less than half were willing to donate stool in-centre (45% willing) or at home (48%). Important information needs identified by >80% were convenience and travel requirements associated with donation. Main barriers were logistics, capabilities to donate, disgust (e.g., donation process), and discomfort (e.g., privacy). The main motivator was altruism, with compensation secondary. Linear regression models identified less discomfort doing BMs in public restrooms (β = -0.15), understanding benefits to patients (β = 0.15), placing less importance on understanding the donation process (β = -0.13), and positive attitudes (β = 0.56) as determinants of willingness to donate in-centre. Understanding benefits to self (β = 0.11) and patients (β = 0.24), placing less importance on understanding the donation purpose (β = -0.19), and positive attitudes (β = 0.50) determined willingness to donate at home. Stool banks should consider donor's bowel habits, comfort donating in-centre, and information needs early in recruitment; and implement flexible logistics for potential donors who face time constraints and limited access to stool banks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Australia
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Donor Selection* / methods
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation*
  • Feces / microbiology*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motivation
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tissue Donors*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

The authors received funding from The University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor’s Strategic Funds (BM) and internal funds granted by The University of Queensland School of Psychology (MH) to collect data using a paid participant panel and to employ a research assistant to assist with data collection and coding. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. There was no additional internal or external funding received for this study.