Table 3:

Representative focus group statements of perceptions and attitudes toward biospecimen banking.

Safety: Pro: None; Con: “This may be dangerous for my life.”; “This may be dangerous for my life”.

Taking Cells/Tissue Samples: Pro:“If it is helpful to me, it is fine to donate more specimens or do more screenings,” “I would like to donate whenever I see it [bone marrow donation] on TV.”; Con:”. . . but donating cells or tissues or things like that make me feel that it is going to be a quite big process, and my concern would be if it is safe.” “It [bone marrow sampling] is too painful. My body cannot handle it.;” “Afraid of spinal tap and worried that afterwards it is harmful to the body.”; “I am afraid that [sampling] is harmful . . . the bad side effects.”

Drawing Blood: Pro. “I think drawing a little bit of blood from you is not a big problem.” Con:”... but we still need to see the amount of blood. One or two tubes of blood are fine, but not too many. Drawing too much blood is bad for the body.”

Privacy: Pro: “The important thing is that the organization that holds the screening must keep all the information confidential, . . .”; Con: “Yes, I do concern about that.” [in response to question about protecting personal information.]; “I am afraid if I this [defects are found in your family] happened to me.”

Trust in Health Care Providers: Pro: None; Con: “Sometimes I really don’t trust the doctors.”

Genetics: Pro: “It would be a good thing if it [gene in your family that may cause cancers] was discovered.”; Con: “It [genetic basis for a cancer] could be hard for people who are just 20 some years old to know because it would be hard for them to find their future spouses.”

Others and Family: Pro:”. . . Generally, people will not do it. But when you learn that the organ you donate could help so many people, and then you may think that at certain point in the future you may be willing to do it.”; “I like to do things that can contribute to the society. If we do not make this contribution, it is impossible for people to invent new drugs or other better treatments. Therefore, it needs the participation from every one of us.”; “If we have family, I would do it [taking tissue samples] for my family but not for the overall research.” Con: none.

Overall Willingness to Participate in Biospecimen Banking Pro: “I would do it. Actually I already did it. . .”; “Majority of the participants are okay with the concept of bio-specimen banking.” Con; “No because I do not know what it will affect me.”; “No, not willing to do so.” Pro: “As for contributing to science, I will do it because I think it is good for the developing process of the research on the disease.”; “It would be a good thing if it [genetic basis for a cancer] was discovered.”; Con: None