ASSESSMENT OF MEDICAL STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS BIOBANKS AND BIOSPECIMENS DONATION

Abstract

Introduction: Human biobanks are repositories containing biological samples and genetic, medical and other personal data aiming at enhancing understanding of medical conditions for translation into improvements in diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Assessment of the current knowledge and attitudes about biobanks is a prerequisite to tailoring suitable awareness programmes. This type of assessment among future healthcare providers is lacking in Egypt. This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude of medical students in Alexandria Faculty of Medicine towards biobanks and biospecimens donation and identify factors influencing their attitude.Fourth yearmedical studentswho participated in the studywere 570 over a four months period from mid October 2016 till the end of February 2017.Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire which included demographic and medical data, history of blood donation and participation in research, knowledge about and attitude towards biobanking.Results showed that less than half (46.0%) of the students had heard about the term "biobank", while 71.8% of them knew the right purpose of a biobank. Less than half of the students (47.2%) agreed or strongly agreed to donate biospecimens to a biobank. The major reason for positive attitude of students towards donation of biospecimens to a biobank was advancing medical research, benefit the society and future generations while the main reasons for negative attitudewere concerns about confidentiality and misuse of biospecimens in biomedical research.Biospecimen donation willingness was significantly associated with histories of blood donation, hospitalization and participation in health-related research.