Stool donors

LATEST RESEARCH

Hyde MK, Masser BM. Determinants of community members’ willingness to donate stool for faecal microbiota transplantation. PLoS One. 2020;15(12):e0243751. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243751

Hyde MK, Masser BM. Eligible blood donors' decisions about donating stool for fecal microbiota transplantation: does ambivalence play a role? Transfusion. 2021;61(2):474-483 doi:10.1111/trf.16109

 

2017

Haw J, Chuong K, O'Doherty KC. FMT Regulatory Challenges and the Lived Experiences of People With IBD. The American Journal of Bioethics. 2017;17(5):59-61. doi:10.1080/15265161.2017.1299253

SURVEY OF AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARDS STOOL DONATION

Dr Mel Hyde, Professor Barbara Masser

Stool banks rely on, but face difficulties recruiting, community volunteers to donate stool for faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). We surveyed Australian residents about what contributed to their willingness to donate stool to guide donor recruitment. Results of the survey suggest that most Australians are uncertain about donating stool. Potential donors’ bowel habits, level of comfort donating in-centre, and information needs should be considered early on in recruitment and screening to increase donation willingness. Logistics also impact donation willingness and strategies that increase flexibility, knowledge, and access to stool banks are needed. A summary of the project is available here.

 
RAPID REVIEW OF FAECAL MICROBIOTA TRANSPLANTATION (fmt) VOLUNTEER DONOR RESEARCH

Dr Mel Hyde, Professor Barbara Masser

The success of  FMT and expansion of work in this area depends on a reliable, continuous supply of healthy volunteer stool donors from targeted populations, community cohorts, and/or patients. Thus, donor recruitment, retention, and the donor’s relationship with the service recruiting donors will be critical. Motives, experiences, responses to deferral, facilitators and barriers to stool donation are key aspects that will impact donor supply. However, the number of eligible volunteer stool donors do not meed demand, and donor recruitment and retention is challenging and costly. This review considers the available research on volunteer universal (unknown to the patient) stool donors, and also reviews complementary research which may have relevant insights to inform recommendations for stool donor recruitment and retention. A summary of the project is available here

Invited talks

Masser BM, Hyde MK. Australian community attitudes to stool donation. Lifeblood Microbiome Pilot Team, via Zoom. April 7 2020.

RECRUITING AND RETAINING VOLUNTEER STOOL DONORS  

Dr Mel HydeProfessor Barbara Masser

Thousands of patients globally with recurrent Clostridioides difficile would benefit from Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT). However, the number of eligible volunteer stool donors do not meet demand, and it is challenging and costly to recruit donors. Based on a rapid review of FMT donor research, and brief reviews of complementary research (e.g., biobanking and clinical trial participation), we provide eight recommendations to inform stool donor recruitment and retention. 

 

RAPID REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON USING HUMOUR TO REDUCE NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL REACTIONS TO UNAPPEALING TOPICS  

Abigail Edwards, Dr Mel HydeProfessor Barbara Masser

Shame, embarrassment and disgust may discourage people from donating stool or avoid the topic altogether. Within health communication, there is increasing interest in the role of humour to dispel these emotions or increase acceptance of unappealing or threatening information that elicits negative emotions. There is also evidence to suggest that humour can encourage more discussion, and more in-depth and positive discussion, about an advertisement or product. Therefore, humour may be one way to reduce negative emotional reactions and increase discussion about, and ultimately social acceptance of, stool donation. We conducted a rapid review of the literature on humour appeals and their effectiveness in addressing negative emotional responses such as disgust, shame, and embarrassment. We draw parallels between the research identified and stool donation in order to offer insights as to how humour may be used in increasing social acceptance of stool donation and potentially as an avenue for stool donor recruitment.

 

RAPID REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON SHAME AND EMBARRASSMENT IN STOOL AND SPERM DONATION  

Abigail Edwards, Dr Mel HydeProfessor Barbara Masser

Embarrassment can lead to avoidance of potentially embarrassing situations and contexts. Stool donation is relatively unfamiliar to most people, and the substance itself or the act of donating may induce embarrassment or shame in potential or actual donors. As such, potential or actual donors may be deterred from donating stool because they feel shame or embarrassment. However the perspectives of potential and actual stool donors has been largely overlooked. We conducted a rapid review of the stool donation literature, along with literature on sperm donation - a context in which donors may also experience embarrassment or shame, in order to offer insights for stool banks to help them manage these responses and increase donor comfort.

 

SURVEY OF AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARDS STOOL DONATION  

Dr Mel HydeProfessor Barbara Masser

This report outlines the results of a survey with 325 Australian residents who met initial criteria to be stool donors and their attitudes towards and motivations for donating stool, social norms, efficacy, and willingness to donate in different situations (e.g., collection facility, home), as well as their willingness to receive a faecal microbiota transplant. The report also covers bowel habits, comfort doing a bowel movement in public, and their preferred language to communicate about stool donation. Recommendations are included to inform logistics of stool donation and donor recruitment. If you would like to access this report but do not have the password, please email m.hyde@uq.edu.au