Evaluation of the knowledge and level of information about stem cells research and therapeutic potential among medical and dental postgraduate students of sumandeep vidyapeeth, Vadodara

Abstract

Introduction: Stem cells are definite units competent of both self-renewal and differentiation into numerous cells. Embryonic and postnatal tissues are the major sources of stem cells. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and level of information about stem cells research and therapeutic potential among Medical and Dental postgraduate students of Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Vadodara. Materials and Methods: The Medical and Dental postgraduate students of Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Vadodara, were selected. The questionnaire form was taken to them by the principal investigator personally and explained about the study and asked to fill the questionnaire after obtaining consent. The collected questionnaire was excluded if more than 30% of questions were not filled. Results: A total of 435 medical and dental postgraduate students of Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Vadodara, were included in the study. 109 dental postgraduates (26.58%), and 301 were medical postgraduates. All participants had a basic knowledge of stem cells (100%), but only a few had specific knowledge (3.90%). Only a few agreed to human embryo research and considered it ethical (0.73%). All agreed to conserve their child's umbilical cord for the child's therapeutic purposes. Conclusion: We can conclude that the knowledge and level of information about stem cells exhibited by most of the participants were minimal. However, all participants expressed a genuine desire to enhance their knowledge regarding stem cells. There is a need for Continuing Medical Education/ Continuing Dental Education (CME/CDE) workshops as well as conferences on this subject to upgrade the knowledge of participants and the community as a whole.