Evaluation of knowledge of phase 1 medical students of Başkent University Medical Faculty about hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a life-saving treatment. However, non-related donor numbers are insufficient in both Turkey and the world. Only one of every three patients is lucky to have an HLA-matched relative donor. The only option for the remaining patients, isa non-related, HLA-matched donor. But in most of the non-industrialized countries; the chance to find such a donor is low, due to insufficient information or the absence of a national donor program. The worldwide donor need exceeds the number of volunteer donors, despite the efforts to inform, convince and encourage the people, to be donors. The medical students may influence the social attitude toward hematopoietic stem cell donation, due to the social tendency to accept them as accurate information sources. In this study; the information of the phase one medical students of Başkent University on hematopoietic stem cell donation and transplantation was assessed by a questionnaire; before they were informed via a presentation. The same questionnaire was applied, following the briefing. The brief education significantly increased the information and awareness on procedures of being a stem cell donor in Turkey and on stem cell transplantation. The attitudes of the participants changed as increased their tendency to participate in the stem cell donation campaigns and their willingness to become a stem cell donor to someone they do not know; their anxiety about procedural complications decreased. The demografic and educational variety of both informational status and the results of the briefing was remarkable. In conclusion; educational and awareness campaigns on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have a remarkable potential of increasing the support and participation to that life-saving treatment; especially among medical students and healthcare workers. Additionally, modification of those activities in terms of methods and content, according to the targeted population might increase the efficiency of those activities.