Background. Medical students have a significant role in improving new perspective about stem cell application in treatment of incurable diseases; such as degenerative neurologic disorders. Methods. In this descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in 2019-2020, 424 medical students at Guilan University of Medical Sciences responded to a questionnaire. The questionnaire was included the questions about knowledge of medical students about application of stem cells in neurologic disorders and stem cells donation and their attitude as well. Exclusion criteria were reluctance to participate in study and less than 20% response to questionnaire. The convenience sampling method was used. Inclusion criteria were being a medical student and willingness to participate in the project. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20 by Pearson correlation, independent student t, one-way ANOVA, U-Mann-Whitney. Results. 49.5% and 43.2% of participants had very low and low knowledge about using the stem cell. The higher score of knowledge was related to higher education periods. 70.3% of medical students had moderate attitude toward using stem cell. Only 17% of them had known the state agencies and private centers of donation. 70.5% had moderate knowledge and 55.2% had moderate attitude toward the stem cell donation. There was a correlation between the knowledge and attitude toward its donation (p = 0.004, r = 0.14). Knowledge about stem cells donation had correlation with the knowledge about its application (p = 0.001, r = 0.161). Conclusion. Although the majority of medical students have very low knowledge about stem cell application in treatment of neurologic disorders, but their attitude toward using stem cell was moderate.
The knowledge and attitude of medicine students towards stem cells application and donation in neurologic disorders: A study at Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Iran