Firefighter willingness to participate in a stem cell clinical trial for burns: A mixed methods study.

Burns

Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Departments of Clinical Neurosciences, Pediatrics and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Research, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Published: December 2016

Unlabelled: Adult stem cells represent a potentially renewable and autologous source of cells to regenerate skin and improve wound healing. Firefighters are at risk of sustaining a burn and potentially benefiting from a split thickness skin graft (STSG). This mixed methods study examined firefighter willingness to participate in a future stem cell clinical trial, outcome priorities and factors associated with this decision.

Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used. The quantitative phase (online questionnaire) was followed by the qualitative phase (semi-structured interviews). A sample of 149 firefighters completed the online survey, and a purposeful sample of 15 firefighters was interviewed.

Results: A majority (74%) reported they would participate in a future stem cell clinical trial if they experienced burn benefiting from STSG. Hypothetical concerns related to receiving a STSG were pain, itch, scarring/redness and skin durability. Participants indicated willingness to undergo stem cell therapy if the risk of no improvement was 43% or less. Risk tolerance was predicted by perceived social support and having children. Interviews revealed four main themes: a desire to help others, improving clinical outcomes, trusting relationships, and a belief in scientific investigation. Many participants admitted lacking sufficient knowledge to make an informed decision regarding stem cell therapies.

Conclusions: Firefighters indicated they were largely willing to participate in a stem cell clinical trial but also indicated a lack of knowledge upon which to make a decision. Public education of the role of stem cells in STSG will be increasingly important as clinical trials are developed.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2016.06.010DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

stem cell
24
cell clinical
16
clinical trial
16
mixed methods
12
firefighter willingness
8
willingness participate
8
stem
8
participate stem
8
methods study
8
stem cells
8

Similar Publications

Glucose Transporter 1 Deficiency Impairs Glucose Metabolism and Barrier Induction in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Astrocytes.

J Cell Physiol

January 2025

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Blood-Brain Barrier Research, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas, USA.

Glucose is a major source of energy for the brain. At the blood-brain barrier (BBB), glucose uptake is facilitated by glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1). GLUT1 Deficiency Syndrome (GLUT1DS), a haploinsufficiency affecting SLC2A1, reduces glucose brain uptake.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Biomimetic Extracellular Vesicles Containing Biominerals for Targeted Osteoporosis Therapy.

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces

January 2025

Organoid Research Center, Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, People's Republic of China.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by decreased bone mineral density and a heightened risk of fractures. Therapies for OP have primarily focused on balancing bone formation and bone resorption, but enhancing the remineralization of osteoporotic bone is also a key strategy for effective repair. Recent insights into biomineralization mechanisms have highlighted the essential role of mineral-containing extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by osteoblasts in promoting bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (BMSC) differentiation and initiating matrix mineralization.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Presbycusis, also referred to as age-related hearing loss, poses a substantial burden on both individuals and society. The hallmark of presbycusis is a progressive decrease in auditory sensitivity. Irreversible hearing loss occurs due to the limited regenerative capacity of spiral neurons and peripheral cochlear hair cells (HCs).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Peyronie's disease (PD) is a fibrotic disorder affecting the penile tunica albugínea, with unclear pathophysiology despite centuries of recognition.

Aim: This scoping review maps the effects of interventions in basic PD research, synthesizing evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies to guide future investigation.

Methods: In October-November 2023, a systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase (Ovid), Science of Web, and Scopus, following SRYCLE's guidelines.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background/purpose: Titanium (Ti) is extensively used in dental and orthopedic implants due to its excellent mechanical properties. However, its smooth and biologically inert surface does not support the ingrowth of new bone, and Ti ions may have adverse biological effects. The purpose is to improve the corrosion resistance of titanium and create a 3D structured coating to enhance osseointegration through a very simple and fast surface treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!