Survey on new technologies and precision medicine to advance healthcare

Precision medicine (PM) is transforming healthcare by tailoring prevention and treatment options based on genetic variability, environmental exposures, and lifestyle. Given the recent advancement of genetic technologies, it is important to assess the extent to which current medical education prepares clinicians to apply PM in practice. This multi-method, qualitative descriptive study explores the perceptions of medical trainees, practicing physicians, and genetic counselors in USA and Canada. Participants first completed an online survey (n = 297) on this topic, followed by in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a subset of medical trainees (n = 33). Thematic content analysis was used to identify key themes related to PM implementation and education. Improved patient outcomes, personalized care, and preventative potential were underlined as benefits of PM. Significant barriers were highlighted, such as insufficient personnel trained to interpret genomic data and limited formal education on PM concepts. Both trainees and professionals emphasized the need to enhance PM education across training levels. Our findings reveal critical gaps in current medical education related to PM, particularly the genetic aspects essential for clinical application. Addressing these gaps through targeted curriculum development is necessary to better prepare future clinicians for the integration of PM in healthcare.