Attitude of potential biobank donors screened for depression towards disclosure of individual health results

Abstract

Background. Research based on biological material with linked health and clinical data may produce new strategies for disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. A survey was conducted among individuals previously screened for major depressive disorder (MDD) to explore participants’ attitude towards research biobanking. Methods. The survey used self-report questionnaires about donation for research biobanks, self-perceived health and life satisfaction. Means and percentages were compared across groups by using t test, ANOVA and chi-square test. Results. Of 416 subjects who underwent the MDD screening, 51 (12.2%) responded to the survey, with the majority of them (42) agreeing to the use of their biological samples only in absence of feedbacks about health or diseases. Agreement towards biobanking was not affected by life satisfaction or self-perceived health. Conclusions. Our findings show a prevailing preference against health results disclosure among MDD-screened subjects, suggesting a role of personal – particularly psychosocial – factors in research biobanking individuals’ contribution.