Knowledge of the use and benefits of applying biotechnology and cell based therapy in orthopaedics in Jordan : Questionnaire survey and regulation assessment

Abstract EN

New techniques have been developed, many derived from biotechnology that enhance and expand the use of human cells and tissues as therapeutic products.

These new techniques hold the promise that some day they will provide therapies for many serious medical conditions.

With the increasing numbers of trauma, cancer cases and diabetes mellitus cases every year in The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Jordan), it is important to explore and introduce the use of new therapeutic technologies in the Jordanian health care system, i.e., biotechnology, tissue engineering, and cell based therapy.

Before introducing these therapy modalities to the Jordanian market, assessing the knowledge of these new therapeutic modalities is worth performing.

The current study aimed to assess the knowledge of biological growth factors and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) use and benefits in orthopaedics in Jordan.

The assessment was made by analyzing questionnaire results filled by a sample of Jordanian orthopaedics surgeons and senior medical school students from the Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.

The questionnaire results reflected good knowledge and appreciation of the use and benefits of biological growth factors and MSCs in orthopaedics applications and treatments among participants.

Surprisingly, higher percentages of positive answers were reported about the knowledge of mesenchymal stem cells benefits compared to biological growth factors in the year 2012.

The results also showed statistically significant lower percentages of positive answers to the question of thinking that using these new technologies will reduce the treatment cost (≤ 36 %), compared to the percentages of positive answers to the other questionnaire questions.

Still, higher percentages of positive answers were reported to whether participants will agree to use biological growth factors to accelerate the healing process on themselves (82 % in 2009 & 74 % in 2012).

The current study also presented an assessment of the Jordanian regulations and their ability to define and regulate the use of these new therapeutic technologies and their products in Jordan.

The questionnaire results and the legislations assessment highlighted the necessity to reform the Jordanian laws to build a legal framework that encourage healthcare suppliers and providers to explore and evaluate new technologies that might reduce treatment cost and hospitalization time in Jordan.