Views on Precision Medicine among Health Professionals in Korea: A Mixed Methods Study
Open accessAbstract
This study aimed to investigate awareness, attitudes, and perspectives on precision medicine among health professionals in Korea and to identify issues that need to be addressed before implementing precision medicine. Mixed methods research was applied. For qualitative research, a semi-structured focus group interview was conducted with six health professionals. For quantitative research, a self-reported survey was administered. A total of 542 health professionals participated in the survey, and 526 completed the entire questionnaire. Health professionals showed positive attitudes toward precision medicine. About 95-96% of respondents agreed that precision medicine will be effective in treatment and precise diagnosis, and 69.9% reported that they would participate as study subjects. Meanwhile, they expressed concerns regarding educating patients and health professionals in precision medicine and developing research and data sharing infrastructure. Also, they emphasized the importance of developing precision medicine in an equitable way. Despite varying levels of awareness of precision medicine, the health professionals expressed a willingness to engage in precision medicine research, and recommended that health professionals work closely with policymakers to design precision medicine in a way that can be effectively adopted. Health professionals showed had a positive, but cautious, attitude toward precision medicine. The results of this study suggest areas to be addressed before ushering in precision medicine in Korea.
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In Korea, most health care professionals surveyed believed that only a few patients would have access to precision medicine, and 84.8% were concerned that this would increase disparity in public health.
“In Korea, a state where the percentage of out-of-pocket-payments in healthcare is 35% [110], most of the health care professionals surveyed believed that only a few patients would have access to PM and 84.8% of the participants (n = 542) were concerned that this would increase disparity in public health [47].”
From Patients’ and professionals’ views related to ethical issues in precision medicine: a mixed research synthesis (2021) · cites this paper as [47]
The passage on access reports that most participants expected only a few patients to be able to access precision medicine, and the survey results describe concern about increased disparities. Our copy confirms that 542 professionals participated in the survey, but the passages do not substantiate the specific figure of 84.8%; the limited-access statement appears in the discussion of participant interviews rather than as a quantified survey result. The indexed passages provide no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn several studies, professionals and patients express concern about the high cost of PM.
“In several studies, professionals and patients express concern about the high cost of PM.”
From Patients’ and professionals’ views related to ethical issues in precision medicine: a mixed research synthesis (2021) · cites this paper as [47]
The paper reports that Korean health professionals were concerned that precision medicine may be too expensive and increase health care costs (Abstract; page not provided). It does not report patients expressing that concern, and this study alone does not establish the claim about several studies. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe majority of professionals have a positive attitude towards precision medicine in general or towards interventions labeled as precision medicine.
“Various studies reveal that the majority of professionals have a positive attitude towards PM in general or towards interventions, which are mentioned under the label of PM [27, 34, 43, 45, 47, 50, 79–83].”
From Patients’ and professionals’ views related to ethical issues in precision medicine: a mixed research synthesis (2021) · cites this paper as [47]
Many health care providers need further education in precision medicine or genomic medicine.
“These and other studies [37, 44–47, 58, 86, 105–108] reveal the need for further education of many health care providers, however, this requirement may vary between professionals in different fields [53, 81].”
From Patients’ and professionals’ views related to ethical issues in precision medicine: a mixed research synthesis (2021) · cites this paper as [47]
Professionals expect a reduction of the overall health care costs in the long term.
“Although professionals expect a reduction of the overall health care costs in the long term [47], some health care professionals question the cost–benefit ratio of PM [30, 54, 84, 105].”
From Patients’ and professionals’ views related to ethical issues in precision medicine: a mixed research synthesis (2021) · cites this paper as [47]
The majority of the clinicians, researchers and health professionals surveyed in a Korean study showed a clear willingness to participate in research and to provide genetic information, lifestyle, environmental or medical data, although this willingness is higher when it comes to their own treatment as opposed to that of others.
“The majority of the clinicians, researchers and health professionals surveyed showed a clear willingness to participate, although this willingness is higher when it comes to their own treatment as opposed to that of others [47].”
From Patients’ and professionals’ views related to ethical issues in precision medicine: a mixed research synthesis (2021) · cites this paper as [47]
Bioinformaticians in particular are considered to be of high importance.
“Bioinformaticians in particular are considered to be of high importance [47].”
From Patients’ and professionals’ views related to ethical issues in precision medicine: a mixed research synthesis (2021) · cites this paper as [47]
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- Authors
- Cho, H. N., Shin, S.-Y., Hwangbo, B., Chang, Y. J., Cho, J., Kong, S.-Y., Choi, K. S., & Lee, E. S.
- Affiliations
- National Cancer Center (KR)
- Samsung Medical Center (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Choi, Kui Son
- Lee, Eun Sook
- ORCID
- Venue
- Yonsei Medical Journal
- Publisher
- XMLink
- Published
- 2020
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 192
- ISSN
- 0513-5796 (ISSN-L)
- 1976-2437
- PMC
- PMC6992457
- OpenAlex
- W3003666842
- Cited by
- 8
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 0.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Yonsei Medical Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ministry of Health and Welfare (1520240)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Health Informatics › Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Technology and Human Factors in Education and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Science, Research, and Medicine
- Keywords
- precision medicine, clinician attitudes, willingness to participate in research, health equity, data sharing infrastructure, health professions education, patient education, health policy, Korea
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attitude of Health Personnel, Female, Health Personnel, Humans, Male, Patient Participation, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult, Republic of Korea, Precision Medicine
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