Beyond the genome: Public awareness of personalized medicine.

Abstract

Background: Personalized medicine (PM) is becoming increasingly feasible due to advancements in DNA sequencing technology. Our study aims to evaluate the general population's understanding and attitudes toward PM in Tabriz city.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire from various participants, including health centers, outpatient cases, and community populations. The research involved forming a panel of specialists, conducting a literature review, developing initial survey questions, seeking expert feedback, revising and refining questions, implementing a pilot study, and finalizing the survey instrument.

Results: The mean (SD) age of 313 participants was 39.63 (14.41) years, with 36.7% being male. About 65% of participants were married, 55.3% were employed, and 79.6% residing in the urban areas. Most participants reported good physical (64.2%) and mental health (58.1%) status. Half of the participants evaluated the different dimensions of their lifestyle as moderate. The majority of respondents had not heard about PM (67.4%; 95% CI: 62.0%-72.4%), and most believed that PM is a promising healthcare approach (61%; 95% CI: 55.5%-66.2%), or can be an essential tool for preventing, diagnosing, and treating various diseases (60.1%; 95% CI: 54.6%-65.3%). Attitudes towards PM were influenced by education level. Economic status influenced knowledge about PM (P=0.002). Similarly, attitude toward PM was influenced by economic status (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The study revealed that education and economic status significantly influence individuals' awareness and attitudes towards PM. Education and income levels should be considered while planning for educational programs about PM. Our findings can inform the development of effective strategies for promoting PM in healthcare settings.