When presented with potential research scenarios that raised moral concerns – e.g., related to abortion, genetic research, and biological weapons – our respondents' willingness to donate to a biobank using a blanket consent was associated with NWIs, and sometimes diminished significantly (Tomlinson et al. 2015).
Interestingly, our results showed that preference for opt-out consent was associated with being younger (under 65 years), from a higher SEG and a higher education level.
It also found that requirements for prior written consent were associated with significantly lower participation rates (27% compared to 58%) [ 15].
Early response (refusal or consent) was associated with age, education, marital status, race/ethnicity, service branch, Reserve/National Guard duty status, and history of past deployment to southwest Asia, Bosnia, or Kosovo.
In a separate multivariate analysis (adjusted for age, physical activity and heart failure), an elevated proportion of patients with surrogate consent was associated with a higher stroke severity score (NIHSS > 5 or GCS < 15).
No other indicator of use of health services is associated with consent in the bivariate models.
Last but not least, out of the 20 subjective indicators of health only one is associated with consent in the multivariate models.
Whilst education is associated with consent at all education levels in the UKHLS except A-Level, there is no association in the NCDS (except no qualifications) and in the BHPS, only those with A-level as their highest qualification are less, and those with or a degree or higher are more, likely to consent; 'having no qualifications' is associated with lower consent across all three studies.
