Background: Rapid advancement of stem cell (SC) therapies provides both opportunities and risks for patients and physicians alike. Physicians have a role in counseling patients about unproven SC therapies, requiring a basic level of knowledge and access to information about SCs. Objective: This study sought to assess SC-related knowledge of and attitudes among physicians in Jordan to elucidate areas of deficiency that can be addressed. Methods: A cross-sectional survey, comprising questions on demographics and SC knowledge and attitudes, was designed as a scoring system to evaluate physicians’ knowledge and attitudes. Participants were recruited from 10 major hospitals in Jordan over 3 months between February and April 2019. The internal consistency of the scoring scales was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient. Gender differences were evaluated with an independent t-test. Results: 382 physicians in Jordan completed the survey (59.9% response rate). They demonstrated a low/moderate level of overall SC knowledge (51.3%), but most lacked confidence in their ability to answer patients’ questions about SC therapies (64.7%). However, the total attitude score was moderate/high positive (66.8%) and most were interested in learning more about SCs (80.8%). Male physicians reported significantly more knowledge than females (p<0.0001). Conclusions: This study reveals Jordanian physicians’ hesitancy to counsel patients about SC therapies, largely due to gaps in knowledge. However, overall attitudes toward SC research and therapies are positive. The results of this study demonstrate a need to cover SC-related information in medical curricula in Jordan, as well as to support initiatives to regulate SC tourism in Jordan.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive teaching intervention on medical students’ knowledge and attitudes about stem cell research and therapy. Methods: A quasi-experimental, one group pre-posttest study design was employed. A six-session interactive teaching course (intervention) was conducted for a duration of 6 weeks. Pre and post intervention surveys were used. Differences in students’ knowledge and attitude mean scores were examined using paired t-test, while gender differences were examined using independent t-test. Results: Seventy one sixth year medical students were invited to participate in this study. A pre-intervention survey was distributed to 58 students who agreed to participate (81.6%). Out of 58 students, only 48 (82.7%) completed the entire course. Total knowledge scores and attitude score significantly increased post intervention. Significant gender differences in knowledge and attitude scores were not detected post intervention. Conclusions: Integrating stem cell science into medical curricula coupled with interactive learning approach were effective in increasing students’ knowledge about recent advances in stem cell research and therapy, and in improving attitudes toward stem cells research and applications.