The Andalusian Biobank adapts its information material to the Easy Reading standards
The aim is to make the messages contained in their brochures about the operation of both the Biobank itself and the Registry of Donors of Samples for Biomedical Research more understandable. Andalusia, 03/10/2024
The Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia takes a further step in accessibility and inclusion by adapting its information material to the criteria of 'Easy Reading', a set of specific standards that results in simple and understandable language.
This is an initiative that allows people with reading difficulties to improve their understanding of messages and covers everything from language to format and even images. The criteria applied for 'Easy Reading' allow communication barriers to be eliminated and guarantee equal access to comprehensive information.
In this sense, the SSPA Biobank has reissued its information brochures to adapt them to these standards and make them more accessible. Thus, the concepts and messages have been simplified and various explanations have been introduced to specify and clarify basic concepts such as what they are. biological samples, what a biobank is or what it means to be a donor.
These brochures will be published and taken to the various events in which both the SSPA Biobank and the Andalusian Registry of Donors of Samples for Biomedical Research have an institutional presence. They will also be available on the website for consultation and download. .
The SSPA Biobank is an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Consumption, which constitutes a platform to support research specialized in obtaining, processing and storing human biological samples and their associated data, to make them available to the scientific community, thus providing a public service by meeting the needs of researchers.
Since 2020, it has welcomed 13,519 new donors with oncological, infectious and parasitic diseases, mental illnesses, cardiovascular, respiratory, genitourinary, etc., as well as healthy patients who are used as controls. These new donors have led to 51,740 donations that have supposed 165,098 samples used in research and teaching projects.
The Andalusian Registry of Donors of Samples for Biomedical Research is a joint initiative between the Biobank and the Ministry of Health and Consumption. This tool allows citizens to participate directly in the development of biomedical research through donation. altruistic collection of biological samples. It currently has around 3,400 registered users, thanks to which 20 research projects have been developed in various subjects such as COVID-19, neoplasias, circulatory system diseases or endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases. In total , people registered have donated 1,173 samples of blood, urine, saliva or feces for the development of these projects.
This registry is a pioneering initiative in Spain, as it allows the specific donation of biological samples in the format and at the specific time that they are requested. When the Biobank detects the need for a certain sample, it goes to the Registry and compares the information of the registered donors. with the inclusion criteria of the research project for which the samples are requested. Once identified, the Registry contacts them, explains the project to them, invites them to participate, and if they accept, they are informed of the strategy for the collection. of the sample.