Wanted: fecal matter from healthy adults with a regular constitution and a good heart. Screening is rigorous. Reimbursement is modest but can add up for those willing to make daily donations of waste that would otherwise be flushed away
Fecal transplants are being used increasingly to treat Clostridium difficile, an often intractable and debilitating bacterial infection. The potential for expanding the therapeutic applications of fecal transplants sent Canadian researchers on a quest to pinpoint what precisely motivates stool donors and how they might recruit more volunteers.
For their study, 802 people in the United States, Canada and England completed an online survey that assessed their attitudes about becoming stool donors. Respondents were, not surprisingly, put off by the unpleasantness that would be involved in collecting stool samples. And most said the time commitment that would be required would be a deterrent — most centers require “deposits” at least three times a week.
But nearly half said the desire to help others was a powerful incentive. And one-third said the modest financial compensation — about 20 to 30 Canadian dollars per sample, or about $15.50 to $23 in American dollars — would add to their willingness to help.
Over all, more than half of the participants who took the time to respond to the 32 survey questions scored high on their willingness to become stool donors.
Facebook
Twitter