ArticleFrontiers in medicine2022
An Infodemic of Misinformation on Stem Cell Therapy Among the Population of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Article in Frontiers in medicine, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Toward equitable regenerative medicine: a health equity research framework for emerging regenerative treatments.Regenerative medicine · 2025Review
- A Cross-sectional Study on Knowledge, Perception, and Willingness Among Saudi Population Towards Stem Cell Treatment and Banking: Associated Factors and their Predictive Abilities.Current stem cell research & therapy · 2025Article
- Public awareness and understanding of stem cell treatments available in Saudi Arabia and their trust in hospitals and research centers involved in stem cell research-a cross sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Knowledge about stem cell sources and obstacles in donation of bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells: a cross-sectional survey from Ha'il city to track the prospects of regenerative medicine in Saudi Arabia.Journal of pharmaceutical health care and sciences · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
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. Methods: A voluntary questionnaire of 16 questions was distributed randomly through social media outlets. Results: In 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. Conclusions: There 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.
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Registered trials
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