Attitudes and values among the Swedish general public to using human embryonic stem cells for medical treatment
Abstract Background The use of human embryonic stem cells (ES cells) for the development of medical therapies is surrounded with moral concerns. The aim of this study was to assess the public’s attitudes toward the use of ES cells for treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other diseases, what fa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Ethics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-022-00878-6 |
| _version_ | 1797977292709822464 |
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| author | Åsa Grauman Mats Hansson Dag Nyholm Elena Jiltsova Håkan Widner Trinette van Vliet Jennifer Drevin |
| author_facet | Åsa Grauman Mats Hansson Dag Nyholm Elena Jiltsova Håkan Widner Trinette van Vliet Jennifer Drevin |
| author_sort | Åsa Grauman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The use of human embryonic stem cells (ES cells) for the development of medical therapies is surrounded with moral concerns. The aim of this study was to assess the public’s attitudes toward the use of ES cells for treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other diseases, what factors are most important to consider when using ES cells for drug development, and if there is an association between religious beliefs and attitudes toward using ES cells for medical treatment. Methods A randomly selected sample of the Swedish public, aged 18–87-years-old, completed an online survey (n = 467). The survey assessed socio-demographics, religious views, perceived moral status of the embryo, and attitudes toward using ES cells for medical treatment of PD and other diseases. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for positive vs. negative attitude toward using ES cells for drug development were computed using logistic regression. Results The respondents were positive about using ES for treatment; specifically, 70% totally agreed that it is acceptable to use ES cells for treatment of PD, while 40% totally agreed that it is acceptable to use ES cells for treatment but induced pluripotent cells is just as efficient. Religion being of little importance in one’s life was associated with a positive attitude toward using ES cells for treatment of PD (adjusted OR 6.39, 95% CI 2.78–14.71). The importance of being able “to access new, effective treatments against diseases that do not have any treatment available” was ranked as the most important factor to consider when using ES cells for drug development. Conclusion Most respondents are positive about using ES cells for drug development, and making effective treatments accessible to those who do not have any. However, these attitudes are influenced by the specific disorder that the drug development is intended for, as well as the religious views and perceived moral status of the early embryo. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:04:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c28c2e8b4d1b45fb857794c60d3d064d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6939 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:04:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Ethics |
| spelling | doaj.art-c28c2e8b4d1b45fb857794c60d3d064d2022-12-25T12:28:26ZengBMCBMC Medical Ethics1472-69392022-12-012311910.1186/s12910-022-00878-6Attitudes and values among the Swedish general public to using human embryonic stem cells for medical treatmentÅsa Grauman0Mats Hansson1Dag Nyholm2Elena Jiltsova3Håkan Widner4Trinette van Vliet5Jennifer Drevin6Centre for Research Ethics and Bioethics, Uppsala UniversityCentre for Research Ethics and Bioethics, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Medical Sciences, Neurology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Medical Sciences, Neurology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Neurology, Skåne University HospitalDepartment of Neurology, Skåne University HospitalCentre for Research Ethics and Bioethics, Uppsala UniversityAbstract Background The use of human embryonic stem cells (ES cells) for the development of medical therapies is surrounded with moral concerns. The aim of this study was to assess the public’s attitudes toward the use of ES cells for treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other diseases, what factors are most important to consider when using ES cells for drug development, and if there is an association between religious beliefs and attitudes toward using ES cells for medical treatment. Methods A randomly selected sample of the Swedish public, aged 18–87-years-old, completed an online survey (n = 467). The survey assessed socio-demographics, religious views, perceived moral status of the embryo, and attitudes toward using ES cells for medical treatment of PD and other diseases. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for positive vs. negative attitude toward using ES cells for drug development were computed using logistic regression. Results The respondents were positive about using ES for treatment; specifically, 70% totally agreed that it is acceptable to use ES cells for treatment of PD, while 40% totally agreed that it is acceptable to use ES cells for treatment but induced pluripotent cells is just as efficient. Religion being of little importance in one’s life was associated with a positive attitude toward using ES cells for treatment of PD (adjusted OR 6.39, 95% CI 2.78–14.71). The importance of being able “to access new, effective treatments against diseases that do not have any treatment available” was ranked as the most important factor to consider when using ES cells for drug development. Conclusion Most respondents are positive about using ES cells for drug development, and making effective treatments accessible to those who do not have any. However, these attitudes are influenced by the specific disorder that the drug development is intended for, as well as the religious views and perceived moral status of the early embryo.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-022-00878-6Surplus embryosPublic perceptionsParkinson’s diseaseDrug developmentMoral concerns |
| spellingShingle | Åsa Grauman Mats Hansson Dag Nyholm Elena Jiltsova Håkan Widner Trinette van Vliet Jennifer Drevin Attitudes and values among the Swedish general public to using human embryonic stem cells for medical treatment BMC Medical Ethics Surplus embryos Public perceptions Parkinson’s disease Drug development Moral concerns |
| title | Attitudes and values among the Swedish general public to using human embryonic stem cells for medical treatment |
| title_full | Attitudes and values among the Swedish general public to using human embryonic stem cells for medical treatment |
| title_fullStr | Attitudes and values among the Swedish general public to using human embryonic stem cells for medical treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attitudes and values among the Swedish general public to using human embryonic stem cells for medical treatment |
| title_short | Attitudes and values among the Swedish general public to using human embryonic stem cells for medical treatment |
| title_sort | attitudes and values among the swedish general public to using human embryonic stem cells for medical treatment |
| topic | Surplus embryos Public perceptions Parkinson’s disease Drug development Moral concerns |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-022-00878-6 |
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