Most patients confident in personalized medicine: survey

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A recent survey conducted by dosing technology firm found that the vast majority (85%) of patients think that personalized medicine stands to improve care.

According to a survey of 1,000 people conducted by dosing platform provider Dosis, a significant majority (approximately 85%) believe that personalized medicine has the potential to enhance care delivery. Further, nearly 80% of respondents said they think personalized medicine should be the standard of care for all.

Personalized medicine is going to be the standard of care, and our survey suggests a large majority of people want these tools and technologies adopted widely,” said Shivrat Chhabra, CEO and co-founder of Dosis. “Personalized medicine truly is the way of the future.”

Other key findings in the Dosis survey include:

  • Most respondents show a notable degree of confidence in the future of personalized healthcare.
  • There exists a great deal of support for the wider adoption of personalized medicine tools and technologies.
  • The cost of healthcare is a frequent concern, with most respondents stating they think about the issue at least once per quarter.

The survey defined personalized medicine as “the tailoring of medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient based on their predicted response or risk of disease. The approach relies on scientific breakthroughs in our understanding of how a person's unique physiology affects their susceptibility to diseases and their response to treatments.”

Patients polled in the survey reported a strong belief that tech tools play an important role in advancement. The majority (57%) indicate they think technology is vital for healthcare’s evolution.

When queried, “Do you think personalized medicine should become the standard of care for everyone?” 79% of respondents answered in the affirmative. Then, when asked for which conditions personalized healthcare would be the most important, top responses included cancer, autoimmune conditions, and heart disease.

Of those surveyed, 50% said they would be willing to pay more for personalized healthcare. Out of that group, 69% indicated they would be willing to pay out of pocket for personalized healthcare; this, according to the survey producers, further highlights their confidence in the potential of personalized healthcare.

Additionally, of those polled, 54% of those surveyed indicated a willingness to travel to visit medical professionals that offer personalized healthcare; younger respondents were more willing, with 62% of those 18-34 years old saying they would travel, compared to 43% of those over 64. About 79% of respondents said they would willingly undergo testing to received personalized care delivery, and 73% said they would take the test if it resulted in more effective treatment.