Stem cell-related knowledge and attitudes among physicians in Jordan

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Medical Education
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Stem cell (SC) therapies are rapidly advancing, presenting both opportunities and risks.
• Physicians require foundational knowledge to counsel patients effectively on unproven SC therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess stem cell (SC)-related knowledge and attitudes among physicians in Jordan.
• To identify knowledge deficiencies for targeted educational interventions.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey evaluated physician knowledge and attitudes using a scoring system.
• Data were collected from 382 physicians across 10 major hospitals in Jordan.
• Cronbach's alpha and independent t-tests were used for reliability and gender difference analysis.

Main Results:

• Physicians exhibited low/moderate overall SC knowledge (51.3%) and confidence in patient counseling (64.7% lacked confidence).
• Attitudes toward SC research and therapies were generally positive (66.8%), with 80.8% interested in further learning.
• Male physicians demonstrated significantly higher SC knowledge than female physicians (P < .0001).

Conclusions:

• Jordanian physicians are hesitant to counsel on SC therapies due to knowledge gaps.
• Positive attitudes towards SC research suggest potential for engagement and education.
• There is a clear need to integrate SC information into medical curricula and regulate SC tourism in Jordan.