Background: Rural residents in the U.S., particularly residents of Appalachia, are underrepresented in biomedical research, limiting the generalizability of research findings.
Objective: To examine factors associated with Appalachian adults' willingness to participate in biospecimen donation and banking.
Methods: A survey assessing willingness to donate blood, saliva, and buccal specimens and to have these biospecimens stored for future use in genetic studies was conducted among 493 Appalachian adults.
Results: Most participants 73% (358/493) were willing to donate one or more biospecimen type; among them, 75% (268/358) were willing to donate blood, saliva, and buccal specimens. Approximately 61% (300/493) were willing to have their biospecimens banked and 97% (290/300) of these were willing to have their samples used for genetic studies. Appalachian self-identity predicted willingness to donate biospecimens, to have them stored, and used in genetic studies (OR1.52, 95% CI 1.03-2.24).
Conclusions: Appalachian adults were generally willing to participate in biobanking research.