Knowledge and attitudes towards genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics of medical undergraduate students in Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics (PGX) are emerging practices in medicine that play a vital role in providing personalized and efficient treatments for patients. While many countries have integrated these novel concepts into their undergraduate medical curricula to enhance the quality of healthcare, Sri Lanka remains relatively new to these advancements. Herein, we accessed the knowledge and attitude of Sri Lankan medical undergraduates on genomic medicine and PGX and explored the readiness of introducing genomic insights to Sri Lankan undergraduate medical education. The study sample was the undergraduate students of Medical Faculty of Wayamba University in Sri Lanka, being a newly developed and diverse institution seeking research findings to enhance the curriculum and teaching-learning activities aiming to produce competent graduates. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing a questionnaire to all five student batches at Faculty of Medicine, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. The data of 232 respondents (55% response rate), demonstrated a good level of knowledge on genomic medicine and PGX, with no significant variation of the level of knowledge across the five academic years. A nuanced range of attitudes, encompassing both negative and positive perspectives towards genomic medicine and PGX was observed varying according to the specific questions posed. However, heavy concerns regarding data privacy, insurance implications, and the timing of implementation appeared. The results of the study highlight a need for curriculum enhancement, acknowledging the level of knowledge while emphasizing areas for improvement in students' perspectives on genomic medicine and PGX for better advancements in future healthcare of Sri Lanka.