Pediatric Nurses Knowledge, Awareness and Attitude towards Application of Stem Cells Therapy in Children

Abstract

Background: Stem cell transplantation is a life saving procedure for a number of malignant and nonmalignant life threatening diseases. Aim of the study: to assess nurses' knowledge, awareness and attitude toward application of stem cells therapy in children. Material and Methods: Research design: Descriptive study design was utilized in this study. This study was conducted at Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department Tanta University Main Hospital, Egypt. All nurses who work in pediatric intensive care unit and hematological department Hospital, Tanta University, Egypt, were included in the study. Three tools were used by the researchers to obtain the necessary data. Tool I: Structured interview sheet to assess nurses' knowledge about stem cell therapy. Tool II: Nurses stem cell therapy awareness assessment sheet. Tool III: Nurses attitude towards stem cell therapy assessment sheet. Results: Nurses' Knowledge about stem cells are lacking, in adequate knowledge represented by 69 % and they identified from their point of view that the costs of the stem cells, policies and procedures are barriers of conducting such new technology in their hospitals. Conclusion and Recommendations: Nurses' level of knowledge about stem cells is in adequate and this indicates the necessity of creation of educational programs and continual training with the use of stem cells. Also nurses must be equipped to know the approved standards and understanding it.