Table 2.

Domains and representative comments from focus group participants

Interest in Fecal Bacteriotherapy as a Treatment	“Yes even though I'm only on Asacol® and I'm pretty much asymptomatic I would still do it [FB].” (12/10/09, R5) “I wish it [FB] was now and not later. I don't know when they're starting it but I want it now.” (1/21/10, R1) “I think that after this discussion and hearing the different phases everybody is at with their colitis, the sooner the better that I would start these [FB] trials…”(1/12/09, R1)
Fecal bacteriotherapy is safe, natural, and comparable to probiotics	“…I even see this [FB] as a more natural way of treating my disease. If I was given the option of 4 pills that have all these chemical that I don't even understand or this kind of natural thing where bacteria that I'm used to would help it, I would do it.” (12/10/09, R5) “I think this is a more natural way to do things, more like a probiotic thing.” (12/10/09, R6) “It sounds like it [FB] can't be harmful or whatever, like some of these other drugs that seem to have the side effects.” (1/21/10, R4)
Fecal bacteriotherapy delivery methods and effectiveness	“Does it [FB] get all the way up to the area that it needs to get? That's what I would worry about. I know a colonoscopy is invasive but I want it [FB] to be where it needs to be.” (1/21/10, R2) “It's which one is the most effective. I mean the convenience only comes into play if it's the case that they're [the delivery methods] are all equally effective. Otherwise, if you're going to go through this you want the most effective treatment.” (1/15/10, R3)
The importance of a healthy donor and donor screening	“Now tell me, I want to know what you would describe as a `healthy or normal healthy' human being. You said you were just screening for several things but I know that there are many more other things that's in the colon that needs to be taken care of.” (12/15/09, R2) “I would need a donor; somebody healthy would be the best choice for my son. I wouldn't have any qualms about it [FB] as [long] as I knew that the AIDS and hepatitis and all that was screened.” (1/21/10, R4) “Even if it's your family [donating stool] you want to make sure they're screened.” (1/27/10, R3)
Mechanisms of disease and of fecal bacteriotherapy	“…her body is deficient in certain bacteria and we found a way to transplant that bacteria so that it can populate in her colon…” (1/17/10, R3) “I think now the probiotics are the core of our system and I think they're going to find more diseases besides ulcerative colitis and other things it's all because our bacteria in our stomachs are not right.” (1/21/10, R2)
The Yuck Factor	“…the initial thought is the `yuck factor' but you know what I'm kinds of at a stage in my colitis where I'm kind of on the last straw before removing my own colon. So I'm at a point where I would try anything…” (12/10/09, R4) “It sounds disgusting but depending on what stage you are at in your illness a patient might be potentially willing to overlook the disgusting nature of this just to get relief from the severeness of the illness.” (1/23/10, R1)