A qualitative study of participants’ views on re-consent in a longitudinal biobank

Abstract

BackgroundBiomedical research increasingly relies on long-term studies involving use and re-use of biological samples and data stored in large repositories or “biobanks” over lengthy periods, often raising questions about whether and when a re-consenting process should be activated. We sought to investigate the views on re-consent of participants in a longitudinal biobank.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study involving interviews with 24 people who were participating in a longitudinal biobank. Their views were elicited using a semi-structured interview schedule and scenarios based on a hypothetical biobank. Data analysis was based on the constant comparative method.ResultsWhat participants identified as requiring new consent was not a straightforward matter predictable by algorithms about the scope of the consent, but instead was contingent. They assessed whether proposed new research implied a fundamental alteration in the underlying character of the biobank and whether specific projects were within the scope of the original consent. What mattered most to them was that the cooperative bargain into which they had entered was maintained in good faith. They saw re-consent as one important safeguard in this bargain. In determining what required re-consent, they deployed two logics. First, they used a logic of boundaries, where they sought to detect any possible rupture with their existing framework of cooperation. Second, they used a logic of risk, where they assessed proposed research for any potential threats for them personally or the research endeavour. When they judged that a need for re-consent had been activated, participants saw the process as way of re-actualising and renewing the cooperative bargain.ConclusionsParticipants’ perceptions of research as a process of mutual co-operation between volunteer and researcher were fundamental to their views on consent. Consenting arrangements for biobanks should respect the cooperative values that are important to participants, recognise the two logics used by research volunteers, and avoid rigidity. Agility may be favoured by tiered consent combined with strong oversight mechanisms; this approach requires evaluation.

Public Attitudes toward Biobanking of Human Biological Material for Research Purposes: A Literature Review

“…Most research involved quantitative studies ( n = 37) [7,9,10,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49], while twelve were qualitative, including seven focus groups [6,12,50,51,52,53,54] and five structured interviews [11,55,56,57,58,59]. Six studies used mixed methods [4,8,11,60,61,62].…”

“…Twenty-four studies were conducted in North America: 22 in the U.S. [4,6,12,16,17,19,20,23,26,28,29,30,34,43,45,46,48,51,53,54,57,62] and two in Canada [41,42]. Two studies described Pan-European studies [8,61], and 15 were conducted in different European countries: the UK [10,11], including Scotland [32,59], Sweden [18,21,26,27,60], Finland [35], the Netherlands [9], Italy [31,44,49], and Poland [37]. Ten studies were conducted in Asia: Jordan [38,39,40], Saudi Arabia [36,47], Singapore [22], China [7], Malaysia [67], India [58], and Japan [50].…”

“…In contrast, the donors may be discouraged by inadequate knowledge on biobanking [12,40,60], disapproval of the research [10,11,26], concerns over the safety of the data [30,48,59], fear over the invasive nature of the sampling procedure (pain, sight of blood, injections, and needles) [11,45], fear over infection with HIV [12], detection of genetic predispositions [22,44], and use of the sample in line with donors’ values [34,48,52]. Many respondents were afraid of stigmatization and discrimination [4,62], and commercial use of their samples [12,14].…”

“…Most donors are driven by altruistic motives [26,45,58,59]. In most research, the most important motivation was a general feeling of duty [3,6,7,49,64] and desire to contribute to the common good [6,54,64].…”

“…The most expected benefit resulting from biobanking was an increase in knowledge about many diseases and the development of novel therapies [6,12,14,55,58,59,62]. For example, 81.1% of American respondents believed that research conducted by biobanks could improve patient care and treatment of many diseases, while 75.1% stressed that it could help increase knowledge for society [34].…”