줄기세포 연구에 대한 생명과학 연구자들의 인식 및 태도 조사*

Purpose: This study examines the attitudes, experiences, current situations, and educational needs of researchers in the life sciences in order to develop an educational program for stem cell related research ethics.

Method: A total of 275 researchers in the life sciences participated in this study. The instrument used was a self-reporting Likert-type questionnaire consisting of 38 assumptions related to ethical issues in stem cell research.

Result: The average score of subjects’ attitudes toward stem cell research was 3.26±0.50. The items that received a positive response were ‘Informed consent,’ the ‘Moral superiority of adult stem cell research,’ and the ‘Ethical control of science.’ Items showing a negative response were ‘Prohibitions on the use of remaining fetal tissue,’ ‘Restrictions on the replication of animals,’ and ‘Prohibitions on hESC research.’ Age, gender, and religion were found to influence attitude scores. Additionally, only 37.8% of respondents had received some form of stem cell ethics education, but most agreed with the need for such education.

Conclusion: Stem cell researchers should identify ethical problems related to stem cell research in each specialized area within the life sciences. Furthermore, there is a need to develop well-designed and integrated stem cell ethics education programs for stem cell researchers and students in the life sciences and medicine.