Attitudes of Swiss mothers toward unrelated umbilical cord blood banking 6 months after donation.
BACKGROUND
During the past decade, the use of umbilical cord blood (CB) as a source of transplantable hematopoietic stem cells has been increasing. Little is known about the psychosocial consequences that later affect parents after unrelated CB donation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of mothers toward unrelated donation of umbilical CB for transplantation 6 months after giving birth.


METHODS
A prospective study was performed with a standardized, anonymous questionnaire distributed to 131 women 6 months after CB donation. The questionnaire included topics concerning views about the ethical accuracy of having donated CB, emotional responses after donation, concerns about genetic testing and research with CB samples, attitude toward anonymity between her child and possible unrelated CB recipient, and willingness to repeatedly donate umbilical CB in a next pregnancy.


RESULTS
The vast majority (96.1%) stated that they would donate umbilical CB again, and all respondents were certain that their decision to have donated umbilical CB was ethical. With regard to the potential risks of genetic testing and "experimentation" of umbilical CB, a significant correlation (p = 0.01) was found between negative attitudes and the decision not to donate umbilical CB again. Additionally, it was observed that women who had a negative experience concerning the donation of CB would not donate again (p = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows a high degree of satisfaction of unrelated umbilical CB donation for banking in women 6 months after delivery. Despite a well-performed and detailed informed consent procedure, one of the ongoing issues for the donators in CB banking involves the concern regarding of improper use of the cells, such as genetic testing or experimentation. Accurate and detailed counseling of pregnant women and their partners therefore maximizes the likelihood that they will donate CB for unrelated banking. These data provide a basis for the improvement of donor selection procedures and public education regarding the use of CB for banking and transplantation.
Danzer
Enrico
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Holzgreve
Wolfgang
W
Troeger
Carolyn
C
Kostka
Ulrike
U
Steimann
Sabine
S
Bitzer
Johanes
J
Gratwohl
Alois
A
Tichelli
André
A
Seelmann
Kurt
K
Surbek
Daniel V
DV
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics; D001771:Blood Banks; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland