Motivation and response rates in bronchoscopy studies.

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Microbiology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Bronchoscopy is vital for lower airway sampling in lung microbiome research.
• Participant discomfort can deter involvement in research bronchoscopy studies.
• Data on participation in research bronchoscopy is scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine response rates in a large-scale bronchoscopy study.
• To identify reasons for non-response and motivations for participation.
• To explore predictors of participation in bronchoscopy research.

Main Methods:

• 249 participants underwent bronchoscopy, physician examination, lung function testing, and CT scans (if >40 years).
• Open-ended questions assessed participant motivation.
• Non-response reasons were collected, and response rates were calculated.

Main Results:

• The study achieved a response rate slightly exceeding 50%.
• Men exhibited a significantly higher response rate (56.5%) compared to women (44.8%).
• Procedural fear was the primary reason for non-response; perceived personal benefit and altruism were key motivators.

Conclusions:

• A ~50% response rate indicates feasibility for large-scale bronchoscopy studies.
• Participant motivation by personal health status necessitates accurate study information from investigators.
• Understanding motivations is crucial for recruitment and ethical conduct in respiratory research.