Table 1.
Gastroenterologist “faecal microbiota transplantation” perceptions survey
| Gastroenterologist “faecal microbiota transplantation” (fmt) perceptions survey | |||
| 1: How would you best describe yourself? (may select more than one option) | |||
| a: General Gastroenterologist | |||
| b: Hepatology subspecialist | |||
| c: Inflammatory Bowel Disease subspecialist | |||
| d: Advanced/Therapeutic endoscopy subspecialist | |||
| e: Gastroenterology trainee | |||
| f: Other; please describe in space below | |||
| 2: What is the nature of your practice/work? (may select more than one option) | |||
| a: Staff Specialist | |||
| b: Public Hospital Visiting Medical Officer | |||
| c: Private Practice | |||
| d: > 40% Medical Research | |||
| e: Other; please describe in space below | |||
| 3: Have you been consulted by a patient who has had FMT before? If yes please circle the indication for the FMT (may select more than one option) | |||
| a. No | |||
| b: Clostridium difficile | |||
| c: Ulcerative Colitis | |||
| d: Crohn’s disease | |||
| e: Irritable bowel syndrome | |||
| f: Other; please describe in space below | |||
| 4: Have you ever referred a patient for FMT before? | |||
| a: Yes – please elaborate in space below (indication, number of referrals, outcome) | |||
| b: No | |||
| 5: Please select which of the following indications, if any, you would consider referring for FMT if easily available (may select more than one option) | |||
| a: Clostridium difficile | |||
| b: Ulcerative Colitis | |||
| c: Crohn’s disease | |||
| d: Irritable bowel syndrome | |||
| e: Other; please list in space below | |||
| f: I would not consider referring for FMT for any indication | |||
| 6: If a patient saw you and expressed interest in undergoing FMT would you (you may select more than one option) | |||
| a: Advise against it | |||
| b: Remain ambivalent | |||
| c: Acknowledge their interest and refer them for FMT | |||
| d: Only refer them for FMT for the indication of recurrent Clostridium difficile | |||
| e: Suggest they only participate in clinical trials involving FMT | |||
| f: Other; please describe in space below | |||
| 7: Please select your response in answer to each of the following potential concerns with FMT | |||
| a: I don’t believe in FMT and I don’t think it is an effective therapy | |||
| Strongly Disagree | Somewhat Disagree | Somewhat Agree | Strongly Agree |
| b: While FMT may work at present there is inadequate evidence for efficacy | |||
| Strongly Disagree | Somewhat Disagree | Somewhat Agree | Strongly Agree |
| c: There is a significant infection risk from donor stool despite screening | |||
| Strongly Disagree | Somewhat Disagree | Somewhat Agree | Strongly Agree |
| d: I have other safety concerns regarding non-infectious adverse reactions with FMT | |||
| Strongly Disagree | Somewhat Disagree | Somewhat Agree | Strongly Agree |
| e: There is a risk of disease exacerbation with FMT | |||
| Strongly Disagree | Somewhat Disagree | Somewhat Agree | Strongly Agree |
| f: I don’t think my patients would contemplate or consent to FMT | |||
| Strongly Disagree | Somewhat Disagree | Somewhat Agree | Strongly Agree |
| g: “Yuck” factor (Aesthetics) | |||
| Strongly Disagree | Somewhat Disagree | Somewhat Agree | Strongly Agree |
| h: Lack of availability/accessibility to FMT | |||
| Strongly Disagree | Somewhat Disagree | Somewhat Agree | Strongly Agree |
| i: Other; please describe in space below | |||
| 8: What is your greatest concern, if any, regarding FMT? Please select only one | |||
| a: Lack of efficacy | |||
| b: Lack of evidence | |||
| c: Infection risk from donor stool despite screening | |||
| d: Non infectious adverse reaction and lack of safety data | |||
| e: Possible disease exacerbation | |||
| f: “Yuck” factor of donor stool | |||
| g: None; I have no concerns regarding FMT | |||
| h: Other; please list in space below | |||
| 9: How do you feel the potential risks of FMT compare with blood transfusion or other biologic product administration? | |||
| a: More risk with blood transfusion than FMT | |||
| b: More risk with FMT than blood transfusion | |||
| c: Not sure | |||
| d: Other; please describe in space below | |||
| 10: What do you think is the optimal modality through which to deliver FMT? | |||
| a: Transcolonoscopic | |||
| b: Enema based | |||
| c: Nasoduodenal/jejunal | |||
| d: Other; please list in space below | |||
| e: I don’t have an opinion | |||
| 11: If your patient had exhausted all other medical options and was facing surgery for refractory disease in which FMT has been suggested as a potential therapeutic option, would you consider FMT as a last resort therapy? | |||
| a: Yes | |||
| b: Yes but only for Clostridium difficile | |||
| c: Yes but only in a clinical trial | |||
| d: Not sure | |||
| e: No | |||
| f: Other; please describe in space below | |||
| 12: Do you think FMT holds promise as a potential future therapy for certain gastrointestinal diseases? | |||
| a: Yes | |||
| b: No | |||
| c: Not Sure | |||
| d: Other; please describe in space below | |||
| 13: Would you be willing to enroll your patients in clinical trials assessing FMT? | |||
| a: Yes | |||
| b: No | |||
| c: Not Sure | |||
| d: Other; please describe in space below | |||
| 14: In the next 3 yr, do you foresee a situation where you would consider referring a patient for FMT outside a clinical trial if a trusted service was available? Please select your answer for each of the following indications | |||
| a. No, I would not consider referring for FMT for any indication | |||
| b: Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection | |||
| Highly Likely | Somewhat Likely | Somewhat Unlikely | Highly unlikely |
| c: Ulcerative Colitis | |||
| Highly Likely | Somewhat Likely | Somewhat Unlikely | Highly unlikely |
| d: Crohn’s disease | |||
| Highly Likely | Somewhat Likely | Somewhat Unlikely | Highly unlikely |
| e: Irritable bowel syndrome or other functional gut disorder | |||
| Highly Likely | Somewhat Likely | Somewhat Unlikely | Highly unlikely |
| 15: With regards to FMT, please select your response to the following statements | |||
| a: I already offer FMT as a therapeutic option in my practice | |||
| b: I have an interest in learning how to process and administer FMT so that I or my institution can arrange such therapy for our patients independently | |||
| Strongly Disagree | Somewhat Disagree | Somewhat Agree | Strongly Agree |
| c: I believe a few select centres that satisfy appropriate regulatory requirements should be available in my city to offer FMT | |||
| Strongly Disagree | Somewhat Disagree | Somewhat Agree | Strongly Agree |
| d: I don’t believe the therapy should be available for routine clinical use | |||
| Strongly Disagree | Somewhat Disagree | Somewhat Agree | Strongly Agree |
| 16: After reviewing the attached FOCUS study letter of invitation, protocol summary and selection criteria | |||
| a: Are you likely to refer patients who meet selection criteria to this study? | |||
| Highly Likely | Somewhat Likely | Somewhat Unlikely | Highly unlikely |
| b: Do you have any actual patients in mind that you would consider referring to this study? | |||
| Highly Likely | Somewhat Likely | Somewhat Unlikely | Highly unlikely |
| 17: Any other comments regarding FMT that you wish to make? | |||