Knowledge and Attitude about Stem Cells and their Potential Applications in Field of Medicine among Medical Students of Arar, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction: The use of stem cell has opened new avenues in the management and cure of diseases in modern era. They have enabled us to achieve remissions and cure in malignancies. They have enormous ability of stimulating the repair process in diseased and damaged tissue. As the medical specialists are a reliable source of information, so their knowledge and approach are vital in counselling the patients regarding the use of stem cells as an advanced treatment option. Aim: To assess the knowledge and attitude level about stem cells and their therapeutic applications among medical undergraduates. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out for a period of six months from January 2021 to June 2021. It included 150 MBBS students (2nd to final year) of Northern Border University (NBU), Arar, Saudi Arabia. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data after obtaining informed consent. It included 15 statements to assess knowledge and 10 statements about attitude. The total knowledge and attitude scores were calculated for each student and classified as poor, moderate or high score. The knowledge and attitude scores were correlated using Pearson’s correlation. Results: Majority of the participating students were males (63.3%) with mean age of 23.62±1.5. Adequate knowledge about stem cells was observed in 65.3% of students while 10% had excellent knowledge. An overall positive attitude was reported with a mean score of 36.9±3.71. There was a low positive relationship between knowledge and attitude scores with p-value <0.001 and Pearson’s score(r) of 0.396. Conclusion: The study indicates an overall good knowledge and positive approach towards stem cell use in medicine among medical undergraduates. It is suggested to organise comprehensive training sessions and update the curriculum regarding recent developments in stem cell research to further enhance students’ awareness and attitude.