Stem cell donation decision in Saudi Arabia: Factors and attitudes

10^th International Conference on CANCER STEM CELLS AND ONCOLOGY RESEARCH

June 26-28, 2017 London, UK

Maria Mufti, Shaden Almojel, Layla Alshammary, Dabiah Thaqfan, Razan Alghamdi and Samah F Ibrahim

Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, KSA

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Cancer Sci Ther

Abstract :

Background: Stem cells (SC) transplantation becomes the base line management in many diseases. The SC donorsâ�� number is still insufficient to cover the SC transplantsâ�� needed number. Encouraging adults to be SC donors is the main donation concern. Objective: The objective of the study is to identify the factors affecting Saudi populationâ��s attitudes concerning SC donation. Materials & Method(s): This is a case control study with a 600 questionnaires filled by Saudi participants aged between 18-50 years in SC donation campaign, King Faisal Hospital, Riyadh. Result(s): 300 males and 300 females with mean age of 29.24 �±9.32 years were included. Although 41.7% of participants were aware about SC, 93% of them had bad knowledge score. 67.3% were registered in SC donation campaign as a donor while 15.5% of participants had knowledge about Saudi SC donation centers. A significant difference was found between registered and nonregistered participants regarding many factors e.g. age, education level and knowledge score (P valueâ�¤0.05). The main encouraging positive attitude was relieving patientâ��s pain (65.3%) while the main negative one was considering SC donation as unsafe procedure (35%). Conclusion(s): The majority of Riyadhâ��s population accepted the idea of SC donation and registered in stem cell donation campaign; however, there was lack of knowledge about SC and Saudi donation centers. Recommendations: Awareness strategies are urgently needed to enhance populationâ��s SC knowledge, clarify the role of Saudi stem cell donation centers and improve their attitude by correcting wrong ideas.

Biography :

Maria Mufti is a third year Medical student at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University. She graduated from Al-Rowad High School in 2012 with percentage of 98 and finished four years in Medical College. She had her first Medical Research about stem cells and stem cells donation: factors and attitudes in 2016\2017. She had courses such as: English course at Alfaisal Universal Academy with a grade of 90 at the 6th level; other is self-development and problem solving and much other Medicine related courses. Her good attendance at English classes made her eligible to take the IELTS exam with grade of 5.5. She is interested in volunteering community services regularly, as she volunteered once to be a photographer for orphan children, she volunteered also in recovering from cancer day as a speaker about cancer awareness, also she was four times a volunteer at campaigns of stem cell donation center at King Faisal Hospital taking swabs and register donors.

Email: marmar19941@gmail.com