Personalized Care in the UAE : A Study on Precision Medicine Awareness and Accessibility among the general population

Introduction

Precision medicine, a novel approach in healthcare, provides an optimised targeted treatment to individual patients based on genetic composition, environmental factors, and lifestyle.^1,2 It creates a revolutionary change in the treatment of rare and difficult to treat diseases by replacing the conventional one-size-fits-all treatment approach.³ According to FDA “Personalised medicine, sometimes called individualised or precision medicine, is an evolving field in which physicians use diagnostic tests to determine which medical treatments will work best for each patient or use medical interventions to alter molecular mechanisms that impact health. By combining data from diagnostic tests with an individual’s medical history, circumstances, and values, health care providers can develop targeted treatment, and prevention plans with their patients.”⁴ The main aim of precision medicine is to pair the treatment with unique characteristics of the patient and to enhance the safety and efficacy of medications. Beyond cancer treatment, precision medicine impacts extend in treating asthma, infectious diseases, connective tissue diseases, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes.^2,3,5,6 Precision medicine have been shown to decrease the healthcare expenses and minimise physicians’ burden, foster more personalised patient care.⁷ According to the FDA precision medicine report in 2022 a total of 12 new drugs identified as personalised medicines and 5 new gene or cell-based therapies were approved.⁴

Health care system in the middle east is also pawing inroads into précised and genetic medicine. By implementing genetic medicine, the Middle East can prioritise the treatment of high prevalence chronic diseases, rare genetic and orphan disorders in the region.⁸ Precision medicine market in the Middle East and Africa is set to expand at CAGR of 9.96 percent to a revenue worth of US$2.51 billion by 2023.⁹ From 2023 to 2028, the precision medicine market in the MEA region is expected to expand at an average CAGR of 11.32%. Due to the market’s size, it is expected to increase from USD 4.98 billion in 2023 to USD 8.52 billion by 2028.⁹

In March 2023, UAE launched a national genomics strategy to enhance the advancement of preventive medicine in the country. The Emirati Genome Program is a foundational project within the National Genome Strategy, which aims to use genomic data to enhance public health among UAE nationals.^10,11 The first Personalized Precision Medicine Program for oncology was launched by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health.^10,11 The main goal of the programme is to provide healthcare professionals with high-quality information that will enable them to offer advanced diagnostics, customized treatment options, and prevention programmes that are tailored to each individual’s unique genetic composition.^10,11 It will also help in the development of innovative treatments for uncommon and chronic illnesses as well as improved prediction and prevention of current and future genetic diseases.

UAE, leading in adapting new technologies and developing precision medicine to provide personalized medical care. Government launching new programs or services to its residents. However there exist limited information on public perception and acceptance on this new branch of medicine. Therefore, this study attempts to understand the awareness and acceptance of the public on precision medicine. Also, we aim to determine the extent of utilization pattern of precision medicine services by the general population in the country.

Methods

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed across online platforms. Participants were invited to access the questionnaire link after receiving a brief description of the study. Both Arabic and English versions of the questionnaire were made available through Google Forms. The study commenced only after receiving IRB approval (Ref. no. IRB-COP-STD-3-JULY-2024). Participation in the study was voluntary. An option was included in the survey link, allowing participants to share it on their social media platforms. Informed consent was provided for participants to accept before joining the study. UAE residents aged 18 years or older were eligible, and an eligibility check was implemented in the online tool.

The questionnaire, adapted from various studies and was modified in consultation with community and hospital pharmacists to align with the study objectives and the local context. It was initially prepared in English and then translated into Arabic using a forward-backward translation method to ensure linguistic and conceptual equivalence. A panel of five experts, including two university professors, two pharmacy students, and a community pharmacist, who were professionally familiar with the study objectives, reviewed the questionnaire for content and face validity. Later it was given for a common man to see the clarity and easiness to answer. Their feedback was incorporated to enhance clarity, relevance, and comprehensiveness. The final questionnaire consisted of 21 items divided into five sections: The sections included five questions about demographics, three questions about current health, three questions about knowledge of precision medicine, two questions about acceptance of precision medicine, and eight questions about the utilization patterns and practices of precision medicine services locally. Participants were given the option to complete the questionnaire in either Arabic or English to accommodate language preferences and improve response rates.

Descriptive statistics were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) for continuous variables, and as frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. The levels of Knowledge, Awareness, and Acceptance of Precision Medicine were assessed. Comparisons of continuous demographic and clinical variables with Knowledge, Awareness, and Acceptance scores were conducted using the Mann–Whitney U test, as the data were not normally distributed. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).

Results

A total of 402 individuals participated in the survey, with 400 completing it after excluding responses with missing data. Majority [n = 377(94.3%)] of our participants were young and educated above the high school level [n = 282] with most respondents holding a bachelor’s degree (60.0%). Income distribution varies, with 30.8% earning between 5,000–30,000 AED per month, while 26.5% preferred not to disclose their income. A total of 15.0% (n = 60) of participants indicated that they had one or more chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and Asthma. Of these participants, 18.3% (n = 73), indicated they took one medication daily. The detail of demographic is presented in Table 1.

Knowledge and familiarity with key terminologies in precision medicine

The majority were slightly or somewhat familiar with terms such as “genetic testing” (61.8%), “precision medicine” (55.3%), “pharmacogenetics” (59.3%), and “targeted therapy” (51.5%). However, a notable proportion of participants reported being not familiar with these terms, ranging from 20.3% to 33.8%. Only a small percentage (12.3%–18.0%) indicated moderate or extreme familiarity. Details Participants’ familiarity with key precision medicine terminologies given in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Participants' familiarity with key precision medicine terminologies.

Sources of information on precision medicine

Most participants (n = 154, 38.5%) identified family and friends as their primary source of information about precision medicine, followed by the internet and websites (n = 96, 24%). In contrast, a notable proportion of participants (n = 130, 32.5%) stated that they had never heard of precision medicine. Details is elicited in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Sources of information on precision medicine.

Perceived benefits of precision medicine

As shown in the Figure 3, 40% of participants considered precision medicine main benefit is to be effective treatment, while 38.5% believed it could play a crucial role in early disease identification and prevention. For 18% of respondents, the key purpose was cheaper treatment, and 24.3% felt it was valuable for safe treatment. However, 29.8% of people were unsure about the specific benefits, suggesting that there’s a need for more education and understanding about how pharmacogenomic testing can be used to improve healthcare.

Figure 3. Perceived benefits of precision medicine.

Perceptions of insurance coverage for precision medicine among participants

Figure 4, illustrate the limited awareness and uncertainty regarding insurance coverage for precision medicine. A majority (59.0%) are unsure if their insurance is sufficient, while 20.8% believe it is inadequate, and only 20.3% think it is sufficient. When asked about challenges in obtaining insurance coverage for precision medicine treatments, 55.5% are uncertain, 33.0% have not faced difficulties, while 11.5% have encountered issues, indicating potential barriers to access.

Figure 4. Perceptions of insurance coverage for precision medicine among participants.

Discussion

This study highlights the public’s awareness, acceptance, and utilization of precision medicine services in the UAE, a country at the forefront of adopting innovative healthcare technologies. The majority of participants were young, with 94.3% aged below 50 years, aligning with the UAE’s population demographics where younger adults constitute a significant portion of the workforce.¹² Additionally, the survey observed a higher proportion of female respondents (64.0%) compared to males (36.0%). Similar gender biases have been noted in health-related surveys globally, where women often exhibit higher participation due to increased engagement in healthcare matters.^13,14 The survey highlights a highly educated population, with 60% holding undergraduate degrees, and 1.3% having completed doctoral studies. This educational profile is indicative of a population capable of understanding and adopting novel healthcare approaches, such as precision medicine. Among the surveyed participants, 15.0% reported having at least one chronic condition such as diabetes, hypertension, or asthma. This prevalence aligns with national statistics showing a growing burden of chronic diseases in the UAE due to lifestyle factors like sedentary behaviour and dietary habits.¹⁵ Medication use patterns indicate that 18.3% of participants take one medication daily, and only 1.5% reported taking more than five medications. These findings are consistent with studies highlighting polypharmacy trends in older populations, with relatively lower rates among younger demographics.¹⁶

The findings of this study reveal that while participants demonstrated slight familiarity with certain precision medicine terminologies, a significant proportion remained unfamiliar with these terms. This highlights the need for targeted public education and awareness campaigns to address the knowledge gap in precision medicine. In contrast, a study conducted by Edris et al. reported that participants exhibited a positive attitude toward precision medicine and pharmacogenomics research.¹⁷

Similarly, most participants (38.5%) learned about precision medicine through family and friends, emphasizing the role of informal communication in disseminating knowledge. However, in contrast to these findings, Almaazmi et al.¹⁸ reported that social media and family and friends had lower trustworthiness scores in regards to provide the medical information’s. The survey results revealed a positive outlook toward the potential benefits of pharmacogenomic testing, with 40% of participants recognizing its value in optimizing drug effectiveness, and 38.5% highlighting its role in preventing adverse drug reactions. These findings align with the growing body of literature that emphasizes pharmacogenomics’ potential to enhance medication efficacy and reduce adverse outcomes by tailoring treatments to individuals’ genetic profiles.¹⁷

The exist a limited awareness surrounding insurance coverage for precision medicine among participants. In this study, 59% of participants were unsure about their insurance coverage for precision medicine, These results are consistent with research by Schroll MM et al.¹⁹ who found that insurance coverage and reimbursement were significant barriers to the adoption of precision medicine, particularly for treatments involving genetic testing like cancer.

Conclusion

This study highlights a moderate level of awareness and a generally positive perception of precision medicine among UAE residents. Participants recognized the potential benefits of pharmacogenomics. However, there remains a considerable gap in public understanding, these findings underscore the need for targeted public education campaigns, clearer communication from healthcare providers, and improved access to precision medicine services. Future research should focus on identifying barriers to adoption and developing strategies for broader implementation of precision medicine in healthcare.

Ethics approval statement

This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates (IRB Reference No: IRB-COP-STD-3-JULY-2024). This study involving human participants were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent statement

Written informed consent was obtained electronically through online checkpoints, where participants indicated their agreement by clicking on confirmatory statements prior to survey completion. Participant data were anonymized to ensure confidentiality and compliance with ethical research guidelines.