Encouraging Attitudes but Insufficient Knowledge of Stem Cell Applications and Banking Among Undergraduate Dental Students: Implications for Curriculum Reform.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate dental students regarding stem cells and their role in dentistry, including awareness of stem cell banking, and to examine their relationship with demo-graphic characteristics.
Methodology: A descriptive cross‑sectional survey was conducted among 130 undergraduate dental students at Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan, between February and May 2020. A validated questionnaire was used to collect demographic data, 15 items on knowledge, and 10 attitude statements measured on a Likert scale. Knowledge was cat-egorized as poor (0–5), moderate (6–10), and good (11–15), while attitude was classified as poor (10–20), moderate (21–30), good (31–40), and excellent (41–50). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, with chi‑square tests applied to assess associations at a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results: Students demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge, with 73.1% recognizing stem cells as undifferentiated cells capable of differentiation, though gaps remained regarding their specific role in dentistry. Attitudes were generally favorable: 72.3% expressed willingness to recommend stem cells to future patients, and 81.6% supported public educa-tion on the topic. However, only 53.8% felt the curriculum adequately addressed stem cells. No significant association was found between gender and knowledge (p = 0.90), but attitudes varied significantly by gender (p = 0.04).
Conclusion: Dental students exhibited positive attitudes toward stem cell applications in dentistry, yet knowledge gaps highlight the need to strengthen curricular content on regenerative dentistry and stem cell science.
Keywords: Stem Cells, Regenerative Endodontics, Dental Pulp, Dental Students, Tissue Engineering.