title: Motivations, concerns, and experiences of women who donate normal breast tissue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center (KTB) was established in 2007 with funding from Susan G. Komen for the Cure to provide scientists with a resource for normal breast tissue. To date, nearly 3,500 women have donated their healthy breast tissue to the bank, but little is known about their perspectives. This study was designed to examine their motivations, concerns, and experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted brief interviews with donors (n = 221) to investigate their donation-related motivations, concerns, and experiences. Donor responses were coded and quantitatively analyzed (descriptive statistics and χ(2)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most frequent motivation to donate (48% of donors) was personal connection to a breast cancer patient/survivor. A majority of donors (60%) were unconcerned about donation before the event; reported concerns included pain, fear, and dislike of surgical procedures. The most frequent positive experiences were minimal pain and positive behavior by KTB staff and volunteers. A majority of donors (61%) reported no negative experience, but reported negative experiences included the biopsy machine and anesthetic. Younger donors (ages 18-24) reported more concerns and negative experiences than older donors (25+).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Donors of healthy breast tissue are motivated by survivor connections and the ability to help by donating. Their concerns and experiences are relatively positive and consistent with undergoing a minor surgical procedure. Younger donors have more concerns and negative experiences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from this study can inform recruitment campaigns and donation procedures for banking of healthy tissue.
authors.affiliation: Marymount Manhattan College, New York, New York. edoherty@mmm.edu.
authors.forename: Eileen F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Erina L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: MacGeorge
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Traci
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gillig
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Clare
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019520:Living Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D014015:Tissue Banks