262435 Public perceptions of educational needs in personalized medicine

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Brenda Wilson, MBChB, MSc, MRCP(UK), FFPH , Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Samantha Craigie, BSc, BA(Hons), MSc , Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Holly Etchegary , Clinical Epidemiology Division, Memorial University, St Johns, NF, Canada
Stuart Nicholls, BSc(Hons), MSc, MRes, PhD , Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
David Castle , ESRC Innogen Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Julian Little , Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
June Carroll , Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Beth Potter , Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Judith Allanson, MD , Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Background: The continued development of genomics and personalized medicine could have great benefits for public health, but these benefits cannot be realized if there is a lack of understanding of the meaning of genomic test results and how they can be appropriately applied to any individual patient for measurable health improvements. Higher levels of health literacy have been associated with use of preventive health services and engagement in health decision-making. The public's health and genomic literacy becomes of particular importance with direct-to-consumer genomic testing, as those tested outside of a clinical setting may not have access to a health care professional (HCP) to provide full interpretation of results and advice about risk management. Aims: To identify perceived needs and expectations of the public for education about genomic profiling. Methods: Mixed-method public engagement workshops with citizens aged 50+ in Ottawa ON (n=46) and St John's NL (n=74). Results: Participants perceived a need for education on several levels. As patients in a publicly funded system, they expected HCPs to provide them with interpretation of test results and counseling about risk, raising questions about the current knowledge and competency of HCPs in genomics and whether it would be sufficient to meet patient needs. It was also believed that members of the public in general need to be better educated about genetics. Concerns were raised about educational burden, and whether increased costs of public and professional education and training would offset any potential health care savings through personalized medicine.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1.Explore the relationship between self-perceived health/genomic literacy and engagement in health decision-making 2.Identify perceived public needs for education about genomics 3.Discuss the relevance of results to public health education on personalized medicine

Keywords: Genetics, Public Health Education and Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator for the research project from which this abstract was developed.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.