Attitudes toward genomics and precision medicine.

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Precision Medicine
• Bioethics

Background:

• Precision medicine relies on activities like genetic testing and lifestyle data collection.
• Understanding public attitudes towards these activities is crucial for successful implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a novel measure, the Attitudes Toward Genomics and Precision Medicine (AGPM) scale.
• The AGPM assesses attitudes towards key precision medicine activities, including genetic testing and genome editing.

Main Methods:

• Developed items reflecting benefits and concerns (privacy, social justice, ethics) of precision medicine activities.
• Validated the AGPM using factor analysis and assessed associations with trust and demographics (age, sex, education, religion).

Main Results:

• The AGPM demonstrated excellent reliability (alpha=.92) and good convergent validity.
• Higher concerns regarding precision medicine activities were associated with regular religious practice, Republican political leanings, and higher education levels.

Conclusions:

• The AGPM is a valuable tool for researchers studying public attitudes toward genomics and precision medicine.
• Demographic factors like religion and politics, alongside education, influence attitudes, suggesting education alone may not be sufficient to shift perceptions.