Balancing personalized medicine and personalized care

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Bioethics
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• The National Institutes of Health defines personalized medicine as individualized prevention and therapy.
• Rapid advancements in sequencing technology, informatics, and computer science are poised to revolutionize patient care.
• Public expectations for personalized medicine focus on holistic care, encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, rather than solely technological progress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the psychological, religious, and ethical challenges associated with personalized medicine.
• To examine barriers to predictive genetic testing and potential patient reluctance to adopt personalized genetic information.
• To review current efforts integrating personalized medicine and personalized care into medical education and clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of psychological studies on genetic testing barriers.
• Analysis of potential religious and ethical objections to personalized medicine, such as embryo selection and cost-containment.
• Examination of existing medical curricula and clinical practices related to personalized medicine and care.

Main Results:

• Psychological studies indicate significant barriers to single-gene and predictive genetic testing.
• Potential opposition from religious groups and ethical concerns regarding embryo selection and cost containment are anticipated.
• Current integration of personalized medicine and personalized care in medical education and practice is often fragmented.

Conclusions:

• Successful implementation of personalized medicine requires addressing patient expectations for holistic, personalized care.
• Physicians and educators need strategies to navigate psychological, religious, and ethical challenges.
• Recommendations are provided for integrating personalized medicine and personalized care effectively into clinical practice and medical training.