Assessing patient readiness for the clinical adoption of personalized medicine.
OBJECTIVE
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Issa
A M
AM
Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-4021, USA. aissa@uh.edu
Tufail
W
W
Hutchinson
J
J
Tenorio
J
J
Baliga
M Poonam
MP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010548:Personal Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D010597:Pharmacogenetics / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends