An Infodemic of Misinformation on Stem Cell Therapy Among the Population of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
In recent years, the industry of unproven stem cell-based therapies has been on the rise around the globe, putting patients at great risk of potential harm. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of the general public, including patients and/or their r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.789695/full |
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| author | Doaa Aboalola Doaa Aboalola Doaa Aboalola Heba Badraiq Heba Badraiq Rawiah Alsiary Rawiah Alsiary Rawiah Alsiary Samer Zakri Samer Zakri Samer Zakri Neda Aboulola Loay Haneef Loay Haneef Loay Haneef Dalal Malibari Dalal Malibari Dalal Malibari Moayad Baadhaim Moayad Baadhaim Moayad Baadhaim Khaled Alsayegh Khaled Alsayegh Khaled Alsayegh |
| author_facet | Doaa Aboalola Doaa Aboalola Doaa Aboalola Heba Badraiq Heba Badraiq Rawiah Alsiary Rawiah Alsiary Rawiah Alsiary Samer Zakri Samer Zakri Samer Zakri Neda Aboulola Loay Haneef Loay Haneef Loay Haneef Dalal Malibari Dalal Malibari Dalal Malibari Moayad Baadhaim Moayad Baadhaim Moayad Baadhaim Khaled Alsayegh Khaled Alsayegh Khaled Alsayegh |
| author_sort | Doaa Aboalola |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent years, the industry of unproven stem cell-based therapies has been on the rise around the globe, putting patients at great risk of potential harm. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of the general public, including patients and/or their relatives, in Saudi Arabia on stem cell therapy and to assess the degree of willingness to try stem cell-based treatment options, should it be offered to them.MethodsA voluntary questionnaire of 16 questions was distributed randomly through social media outlets.ResultsIn the survey of this study, 2,030 individuals participated. A total of 1,292 (63.6%) stated that they would accept stem cell therapy or would recommend it to their friends and relatives. Alarmingly, 72.1% of participants were unaware that using unapproved stem cell-based treatments may lead to serious health complications including cancer. More than 20% believed that stem cell therapy is already approved for organ/tissue regeneration. Worryingly, 60.6% of the physicians and 56.4% of the medical students stated that they would recommend stem cell treatment for their patients.ConclusionsThere is a concerning spread of misinformation among the Saudi population, including physicians, regarding stem cell therapy. This calls for a targeted effort to raise awareness about the current status of stem cell treatment in the general public and among health care practitioners. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:37:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-474aeea4e5e24bfa9729b6d4870e3d0f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:37:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-474aeea4e5e24bfa9729b6d4870e3d0f2022-12-21T19:33:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2022-03-01910.3389/fmed.2022.789695789695An Infodemic of Misinformation on Stem Cell Therapy Among the Population of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional StudyDoaa Aboalola0Doaa Aboalola1Doaa Aboalola2Heba Badraiq3Heba Badraiq4Rawiah Alsiary5Rawiah Alsiary6Rawiah Alsiary7Samer Zakri8Samer Zakri9Samer Zakri10Neda Aboulola11Loay Haneef12Loay Haneef13Loay Haneef14Dalal Malibari15Dalal Malibari16Dalal Malibari17Moayad Baadhaim18Moayad Baadhaim19Moayad Baadhaim20Khaled Alsayegh21Khaled Alsayegh22Khaled Alsayegh23King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaMinistry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaMinistry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaMinistry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaMinistry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing AbdulAziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaMinistry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaMinistry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaMinistry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaMinistry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaIn recent years, the industry of unproven stem cell-based therapies has been on the rise around the globe, putting patients at great risk of potential harm. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of the general public, including patients and/or their relatives, in Saudi Arabia on stem cell therapy and to assess the degree of willingness to try stem cell-based treatment options, should it be offered to them.MethodsA voluntary questionnaire of 16 questions was distributed randomly through social media outlets.ResultsIn the survey of this study, 2,030 individuals participated. A total of 1,292 (63.6%) stated that they would accept stem cell therapy or would recommend it to their friends and relatives. Alarmingly, 72.1% of participants were unaware that using unapproved stem cell-based treatments may lead to serious health complications including cancer. More than 20% believed that stem cell therapy is already approved for organ/tissue regeneration. Worryingly, 60.6% of the physicians and 56.4% of the medical students stated that they would recommend stem cell treatment for their patients.ConclusionsThere is a concerning spread of misinformation among the Saudi population, including physicians, regarding stem cell therapy. This calls for a targeted effort to raise awareness about the current status of stem cell treatment in the general public and among health care practitioners.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.789695/fullmisleading stem cell treatment informationfalse advertisementunproven stem cell treatmentspublic awarenesspublic healthhealth care providers |
| spellingShingle | Doaa Aboalola Doaa Aboalola Doaa Aboalola Heba Badraiq Heba Badraiq Rawiah Alsiary Rawiah Alsiary Rawiah Alsiary Samer Zakri Samer Zakri Samer Zakri Neda Aboulola Loay Haneef Loay Haneef Loay Haneef Dalal Malibari Dalal Malibari Dalal Malibari Moayad Baadhaim Moayad Baadhaim Moayad Baadhaim Khaled Alsayegh Khaled Alsayegh Khaled Alsayegh An Infodemic of Misinformation on Stem Cell Therapy Among the Population of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study Frontiers in Medicine misleading stem cell treatment information false advertisement unproven stem cell treatments public awareness public health health care providers |
| title | An Infodemic of Misinformation on Stem Cell Therapy Among the Population of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | An Infodemic of Misinformation on Stem Cell Therapy Among the Population of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | An Infodemic of Misinformation on Stem Cell Therapy Among the Population of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Infodemic of Misinformation on Stem Cell Therapy Among the Population of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | An Infodemic of Misinformation on Stem Cell Therapy Among the Population of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | infodemic of misinformation on stem cell therapy among the population of saudi arabia a cross sectional study |
| topic | misleading stem cell treatment information false advertisement unproven stem cell treatments public awareness public health health care providers |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.789695/full |
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