Assessing Patient Readiness for the Clinical Adoption of Personalized Medicine

Vol. 12, No. 3, 2009

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Paper

Assessing Patient Readiness for the Clinical Adoption of Personalized Medicine
A.M. Issa^a-c, W. Tufail^a, J. Hutchinson^d, J. Tenorio^c, M. Poonam Baliga^a

^aProgram in Personalized Medicine and Targeted Therapeutics,
^bDepartment of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy,
^cThe Methodist Hospital Research Institute, and
^dDepartment of Anthropology, University of Houston, Houston, Tex., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Public Health Genomics 2009;12:163-169 (DOI: 10.1159/000189629)

Key Words

Clinical adoption
Focus groups
Patient acceptance
Personalized medicine
Pharmacogenomics

Abstract

Background/Aims: Although pharmacogenomics-based diagnostics and therapeutics are increasingly being translated into personalized medicine applications, relatively little evidence exists about how novel pharmacogenomics-based technologies will be accepted and adopted by patients. It is important to understand the characteristics of genomic diagnostics and targeted therapeutics that might impact utilization or serve as barriers to adoption of these novel technologies in order to formulate appropriate policies and procedures. The objective of this study was to investigate patients' understanding and knowledge of personalized medicine and the process of decision-making regarding pharmacogenomics testing and targeted therapeutics and to better understand how patients value receiving pharmacogenomics-based care. Methods: We conducted 4 focus groups with 8-10 individuals in each group with patients recruited from out-patient clinics at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Tex., USA. Results: The use of genomic diagnostics and targeted therapeutics to facilitate personalized medicine has considerable support from patients. However, our data revealed that participants were concerned with issues surrounding privacy and confidentiality of genetic test results, particularly with respect to access of information by insurers, with potential costs of testing and issues related to accuracy of test results. Questions regarding willingness to pay revealed that patients would be more willing to pay out-of-pocket if the disease associated with pharmacogenomic testing for treatment was perceived to be high risk (e.g., colorectal cancer) versus a chronic condition that was perceived as lower risk (e.g., high cholesterol). Conclusion: As the personalized medicine approach is increasingly incorporated into health care, understanding patients' needs and their readiness to adopt these novel technologies will become progressively more important for the development of appropriate health policies.

Author Contacts

Amalia M. Issa, PhD
MPH Program in Personalized Medicine and Targeted Therapeutics
University of Houston, 300 Technology Building
Houston, TX 77204-4021 (USA)
E-Mail aissa@uh.edu

Article Information

Published online: February 10, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 22

Medline Abstract (ID 19204419)

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Public Health Genomics
is the continuation of
Community Genetics

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