An Infodemic of Misinformation on Stem Cell Therapy Among the Population of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Doaa Aboalola; Heba Badraiq; Rawiah Alsiary; Samer Zakri; Neda Aboulola; Loay Haneef; Dalal Malibari; Moayad Baadhaim; Khaled Alsayegh

doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.789695

An Infodemic of Misinformation on Stem Cell Therapy Among the Population of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Mar 2:9:789695. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.789695. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Doaa Aboalola^{1

2

3}, Heba Badraiq^{1

3}, Rawiah Alsiary^{1

2

3}, Samer Zakri^{1

2

3}, Neda Aboulola⁴, Loay Haneef^{1

2

3}, Dalal Malibari^{1

2

3}, Moayad Baadhaim^{1

2

3}, Khaled Alsayegh^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
² King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
³ Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ King AbdulAziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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.

Keywords: Saudi Arabia; false advertisement; health care providers; knowledge; misleading stem cell treatment information; public awareness; public health; unproven stem cell treatments.