title: Nationwide Survey of Patient Knowledge and Attitudes towards Human Experimentation Using Stem Cells or Bee Venom Acupuncture for Parkinson's Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stem cell treatment is a well-recognized experimental treatment among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), for which there are high expectations of a positive impact. Acupuncture with bee venom is one of the most popular complementary and alternative treatments for PD. Patient knowledge and attitudes towards these experimental treatments are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a 12-item questionnaire, a nationwide survey was conducted of 963 PD patients and 267 caregivers in 44 Korean Movement Disorders Society member hospitals from April 2013 to June 2013. The survey was performed by trained interviewers using conventional methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding questions on experimental treatments using stem cells or bee venom acupuncture, 5.1-17.7% of PD patients answered questions on safety, efficacy, and evidence-based practice incorrectly; however, more than half responded that they did not know the correct answer. Although safety and efficacy have not been established, 55.5% of PD patients responded that they were willing to receive stem cell treatment. With regard to participating in experimental treatments, there was a strong correlation between stem cell treatment and bee venom acupuncture (p < 0.0001, odds ratio = 5.226, 95% confidence interval 3.919-6.969). Younger age, higher education, and a longer duration of PD were all associated with a correct understanding of experimental treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that relatively few PD patients correctly understand the safety and efficacy of experimental treatments and that PD patients are greatly interested in new treatments. We hope that our data will be used to educate or to plan educational programs for PD patients and caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Beom
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Su
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Dong-A University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Complementary alternative medicine; Experimental treatment; Parkinson’s disease; Stem cell; Survey