Awareness and attitudes of primary healthcare pharmacists regarding the efficacy and significance of stem cell applications for medical purposes

Objective. In recent years, interest in the collection and preservation of umbilical cord blood stem cells has increased substantially, owing to their therapeutic potential in a range of medical conditions. As highly accessible healthcare professionals, primary care pharmacists are frequently consulted on diverse medical issues. Consequently, it is imperative that they possess comprehensive knowledge, including a thorough understanding of stem cell applications and engage in ongoing professional development. This study aimed to assess the awareness, attitudes, and opinions of licensed pharmacists working in primary healthcare regarding the medical use of stem cells. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using anonymous questionnaires (Stem-KAAQ instrument) and was distributed to pharmacists (n=248) in primary healthcare settings across the Central part of Serbia. Data were collected from July 1 to August 1, 2022, and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics and MS Excel. Inclusion criteria encompassed current employment as a primary healthcare pharmacist in Serbia and voluntary informed consent to participate in the study. Results. The study involved 248 participants employed at the primary healthcare level with the mean age of 29.61±2.23 and most of them were women (82.3%). The most of them, 154 (62.1%) had never heard of the stem cell donor registry, while 94 (37.9%) were informed about its existence, which indicates poor awareness of healthcare professionals in general about stem cell donor registries; 216 (87.1%) of the respondents claimed that embryonic stem cells are capable of differentiating into any type of cell in the body, including the placenta. 86.3% of the respondents considered that cord blood stem cells are the same as embryonic stem cells, while 13.7% of them considered this statement to be incorrect. Also, 89.1% of the respondents believed that the collection of cord blood stem cells could not cause pain and possible harmful risks for the newborn and the mother. Interestingly, the knowledge related to the stem cell donor registry was significantly higher in employees from private sector. Conclusion. The analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in awareness, attitudes, or opinions between pharmacists working in public and private sectors, except for a significant difference regarding knowledge of the existence of a stem cell donor registry (p<0.05). The findings indicate that pharmacists in both the public and private primary care sectors possess different levels of knowledge and share similar attitudes toward stem cell applications, with the promiment awereness of the pharmacists employed in the private sector. The study highlights the critical importance of continuous education and training for pharmacists in the evolving field of regenerative medicine.