From one size fits all to a tailored approach: integrating precision medicine into medical education.

Abstract

Background: As precision medicine gains momentum, the traditional - One Size Fits All - approach to disease prevention and treatment is becoming less reliable. Medical education must prioritize equipping physicians with the knowledge to apply precision medicine effectively. The present study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers to precision medicine among medical students, interns, and physicians in Jordan.

Materials and methods: An analytical cross-sectional study, using an online validated and reliable questionnaire to collect data, was conducted. The knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions related to precision medicine were assessed and explored for statistical associations. The strength of each association was further presented by calculating the Cramér's phi (φc).

Results: Participants in the present study were 607 individuals, 55.5% were males. 29.6% of participants had low knowledge scores (marks between - 12 and 0). The strongest association was reported between knowledge score and primary care setting followed by age (φc = 0.27 and 0.29, respectively). Physicians at the Ministry of Health had the highest odds of a high knowledge score (OR = 5.3, 95% CI 2.7-10.2, P < 0.001). Most respondents (79.1%) would consider using genome-guided prescribing tools developed by researchers, with only (15.8%) deeming these tools clinically useless. Nevertheless, almost 78% of participants expressed concern regarding patient anxiety with test results. Students showed better perception than physicians (p = < 0.001), but Physicians were more confident to implement precision medicine (P = < 0.0001). Most participants (87.1%) considered expanding their knowledge in precision medicine. Physicians cited limited accessibility as the main barrier to adopt precision medicine (92.9%), while high cost was the primary obstacle reported by students (80.2%).

Conclusion: Medical students and Physicians share a positive attitude toward implementing Precision Medicine, but barriers must be overcome for successful implementation. Integrating precision medicine and genome-based technologies into medical education is necessary for its successful application in clinical practice.