Perception and Attitude toward Stem Cell Therapy among Thai Aged 15-60

Abstract

In recent years, regenerative medicine using cell therapy has emerged as a promising treatment option for addressing various health conditions and diseases. The acceptance and adoption of this medical innovation are influenced by public perception. Additionally, there are misconceptions surrounding the use of cell therapy for disease treatment and anti-aging purposes. This study aims to investigate public perception and attitudes towards cell therapy and identify the factors that influence these attitudes. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to assess public perception of cell therapy among residents of Bangkok Metropolitan Region aged 15-60 years. Data were collected using a structured online questionnaire administered through Google Forms. The sample size was calculated by Cochran equal to 345.

There were a total of 351 volunteer participated in this study. The majority were female (59.54%), aged 26-35 years (28.77%), and had an education level of bachelor's degree (50.71%). The most common source of information about cell therapy was social media/internet (43.59%). Most participants had never undergone cell therapy (79.20%). The majority of the sample had low levels of knowledge about cell therapy (46.72%) and moderate attitudes towards cell therapy (47.86%). Knowledge about cell therapy was a statistically significant predictor of attitudes towards cell therapy (Beta= 0.129, p-value <0.05), accounting for 12.9% of the variance. There is a need for public education campaigns to increase awareness and knowledge about cell therapy. Misconceptions about cell therapy should be addressed to promote informed decision-making. Communication strategies should be tailored to the specific needs and information levels of different audiences.