Factors influencing precision medicine knowledge and attitudes

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Health Disparities
• Biomedical Research

Background:

• Precision medicine aims to improve health and reduce disparities, but requires diverse research participation.
• Underrepresentation of non-European ancestries and racial disparities in precision medicine uptake persist.
• Factors influencing participation in precision medicine are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the relationship between precision medicine knowledge (PMK) and trust in biomedical research with sociodemographic variables.
• To understand the variation in PMK within a diverse population and its connection to trust and demographics.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of survey data from a diverse sample using linear regression models.
• Examined variation in PMK and trust in biomedical research.
• Controlled for sociodemographic factors like age, marital status, employment, and education.

Main Results:

• Identifying as Black was significantly associated with PMK, explaining 7% of variance after covariate adjustment.
• A positive association was found between PMK and trust in biomedical research.
• Race remains a factor influencing PMK, independent of sociodemographic variables.

Conclusions:

• While race impacts PMK, other factors also contribute to knowledge variation.
• Further research is needed to identify all factors influencing PMK.
• Increasing diversity and inclusion in precision medicine research is essential to address health disparities.