Indian J Pediatr. 2016 Mar;83(3):238-41. doi: 10.1007/s12098-015-1909-x. Epub 2015 Nov 21.

Knowledge of Cord Blood Banking in General Population and Doctors: A Questionnaire Based Survey.

Tuteja M¹, Agarwal M¹, Phadke SR².

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the knowledge of the general population and the medical specialists about the purpose and utility of cord blood banking.

METHODS:

One hundred individuals from the general population and 100 clinicians from various departments were enrolled in the study between August 2013 and November 2013.

RESULTS:

Fifty eight percent of the doctors and 82 % of the lay persons did not know any indication or were not aware of the correct indications of the use of cord blood for transplantation. Around half of the lay persons (42 %) and doctors (37 %) thought that umbilical cord blood can be used to treat any genetic disorder including Duchenne muscular dystrophy and mental retardation. Nineteen percent of the doctors thought that umbilical cord blood can be used to treat thalassemia in the same child.

CONCLUSIONS:

The propaganda done by cord blood banks that cord blood is a biological insurance for the child is misleading and should be discouraged. The obstetricians and the pediatricians should take a central role in providing the correct information to would be parents to help them in taking a correct decision.