Exploring factors that influence trust in non-standard stem cell therapies among patients with musculoskeletal conditions

Abstract

Although stem cell interventions (SCIs) may offer some therapeutic potential, the development of regulatory frameworks for their safe clinical application remains a significant challenge. As the regulation of these innovative therapies is still being developed, it is crucial to examine the factors that shape patients’ trust in these interventions that lack clear oversight. The purpose of this study is to explore the factors that influence the trust in nonstandard SCIs among patients with musculoskeletal disorders as well as their understanding of the role regulatory bodies play in ensuring safe and effective treatments. This understanding will be relevant to policy development and regulatory reform for innovative regenerative medicine therapies, potentially addressing the role that professional regulation plays in providing oversight of this developing field. This study employed a qualitative approach, using constructivist grounded theory. The data were obtained through in-depth, semi-structured one-on-one interviews with eight participants lasting from 45 to 75 minutes. The interview transcripts were analyzed initially with line-by-line coding, then focused coding. The codes were later collapsed and organized into categories, which guided theory construction. The findings unveiled a range of factors involving the patients, their knowledge of the intervention, and their practitioners that influence their trust in non-standard SCIs. The results also suggest that health practitioners play a central role in guiding participants' consideration of non-standard SCIs. This role also extends beyond medical doctors and includes allied healthcare professionals, as patients with musculoskeletal conditions often seek their services to manage their symptoms. Lastly, the results indicate a strong and implicit trust that patients place in regulatory bodies; suggesting that patients hold expectations of these bodies without a full understanding of how they meet them.