Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Health Science Students in the United Arab Emirates toward Genomic Medicine and Pharmacogenomics: A Cross-Sectional Study
Medical and health science students represent future health professionals, and their perceptions are essential to increasing awareness on genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics. Lack of education is one of the significant barriers that may affect health professional’s ability to interpret and communi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Personalized Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/10/4/191 |
| _version_ | 1797549870021607424 |
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| author | Azhar T. Rahma Mahanna Elsheik Iffat Elbarazi Bassam R. Ali George P. Patrinos Maitha A. Kazim Salma S. Alfalasi Luai A. Ahmed Fatma Al Maskari |
| author_facet | Azhar T. Rahma Mahanna Elsheik Iffat Elbarazi Bassam R. Ali George P. Patrinos Maitha A. Kazim Salma S. Alfalasi Luai A. Ahmed Fatma Al Maskari |
| author_sort | Azhar T. Rahma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Medical and health science students represent future health professionals, and their perceptions are essential to increasing awareness on genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics. Lack of education is one of the significant barriers that may affect health professional’s ability to interpret and communicate pharmacogenomics information and results to their clients. Our aim was to assess medical and health science students’ knowledge, attitudes and perception for a better genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics practice in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated questionnaire distributed electronically to students recruited using random and snowball sampling methods. A total of 510 students consented and completed the questionnaire between December 2018 and October 2019. The mean knowledge score (SD) for students was 5.4 (±2.7). There were significant differences in the levels of knowledge by the year of study of bachelor’s degree students, the completion status of training or education in pharmacogenomics (PGX) or pharmacogenetics and the completion of an internship or study abroad program (<i>p</i>-values < 0.05. The top two barriers that students identified in the implementation of genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics were lack of training or education (59.7%) and lack of clinical guidelines (58.7%). Concerns regarding confidentiality and discrimination were stated. The majority of medical and health science students had positive attitudes but only had a fair level of knowledge. Stakeholders in the UAE must strive to acquaint their students with up-to-date knowledge of genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:21:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35273eafce23495d82e38329226dea3c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4426 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:21:30Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Personalized Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-35273eafce23495d82e38329226dea3c2023-11-20T18:25:19ZengMDPI AGJournal of Personalized Medicine2075-44262020-10-0110419110.3390/jpm10040191Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Health Science Students in the United Arab Emirates toward Genomic Medicine and Pharmacogenomics: A Cross-Sectional StudyAzhar T. Rahma0Mahanna Elsheik1Iffat Elbarazi2Bassam R. Ali3George P. Patrinos4Maitha A. Kazim5Salma S. Alfalasi6Luai A. Ahmed7Fatma Al Maskari8Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, UAEInstitute of Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, UAEInstitute of Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, UAEZayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, UAEZayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, UAEInstitute of Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, UAEInstitute of Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, UAEInstitute of Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, UAEInstitute of Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, UAEMedical and health science students represent future health professionals, and their perceptions are essential to increasing awareness on genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics. Lack of education is one of the significant barriers that may affect health professional’s ability to interpret and communicate pharmacogenomics information and results to their clients. Our aim was to assess medical and health science students’ knowledge, attitudes and perception for a better genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics practice in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated questionnaire distributed electronically to students recruited using random and snowball sampling methods. A total of 510 students consented and completed the questionnaire between December 2018 and October 2019. The mean knowledge score (SD) for students was 5.4 (±2.7). There were significant differences in the levels of knowledge by the year of study of bachelor’s degree students, the completion status of training or education in pharmacogenomics (PGX) or pharmacogenetics and the completion of an internship or study abroad program (<i>p</i>-values < 0.05. The top two barriers that students identified in the implementation of genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics were lack of training or education (59.7%) and lack of clinical guidelines (58.7%). Concerns regarding confidentiality and discrimination were stated. The majority of medical and health science students had positive attitudes but only had a fair level of knowledge. Stakeholders in the UAE must strive to acquaint their students with up-to-date knowledge of genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/10/4/191knowledgeattitudesgenomic medicinepharmacogenomicsbarriersUAE students |
| spellingShingle | Azhar T. Rahma Mahanna Elsheik Iffat Elbarazi Bassam R. Ali George P. Patrinos Maitha A. Kazim Salma S. Alfalasi Luai A. Ahmed Fatma Al Maskari Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Health Science Students in the United Arab Emirates toward Genomic Medicine and Pharmacogenomics: A Cross-Sectional Study Journal of Personalized Medicine knowledge attitudes genomic medicine pharmacogenomics barriers UAE students |
| title | Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Health Science Students in the United Arab Emirates toward Genomic Medicine and Pharmacogenomics: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Health Science Students in the United Arab Emirates toward Genomic Medicine and Pharmacogenomics: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Health Science Students in the United Arab Emirates toward Genomic Medicine and Pharmacogenomics: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Health Science Students in the United Arab Emirates toward Genomic Medicine and Pharmacogenomics: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Health Science Students in the United Arab Emirates toward Genomic Medicine and Pharmacogenomics: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | knowledge and attitudes of medical and health science students in the united arab emirates toward genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics a cross sectional study |
| topic | knowledge attitudes genomic medicine pharmacogenomics barriers UAE students |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/10/4/191 |
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