Citizens' Attitudes, Knowledge, and Educational Needs in the Field of Omics Sciences: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Background: The huge development of omics sciences is changing the classical medical approach and making new technologies available. In this context, education of citizens is essential to allow appropriate decisions about their own health. Hence, we aimed to summarize existing literature regarding citizens' knowledge, attitudes, and educational needs on omics sciences. Methods: We performed a systematic literature review (SLR) using Pubmed, ISI Web of Science, and Embase databases. The eligibility criteria for inclusion in this review required that the studies investigated knowledge, attitudes, or educational needs regarding omics sciences among the general population. Results: We included 54 studies, published between 2006 and 2020. Most of the included studies (72%) investigated citizens' knowledge, half of them (56%) attitudes, and 20% educational needs in the field of omics sciences, while 52% investigated attitudes and perceptions about genetic and/or omics tests. Most studies (64%) reported a limited knowledge level among citizens, even though most (59%) reported participants understood the benefits of the use of omics sciences into medicine. As for omics tests, a controversial opinion toward their use into practice was reported among citizens. Most of the studies (82%) investigating citizens' educational needs highlighted a clear gap to be filled. Conclusions: Our SLR summarizes current knowledge on citizens' literacy, attitudes, and educational needs on omics science, underlining the need for strengthening public engagement on this topic. Further research is needed, however, to identify appropriate methods and models to achieve such an improvement.

Welfare Genome Project: A Participatory Korean Personal Genome Project With Free Health Check-Up and Genetic Report Followed by Counseling

“…While general practitioners can partially fill in the counseling role, their genetic interpretations may lack depth. This becomes even of higher importance when we consider the recent estimates (2006–2020), where the general population recruited to omics projects in most studies (64%) does not have a sufficient level of knowledge about genomics ( Calabrò et al, 2020 ). However, the competence of general practitioners involved in genome projects has already been demonstrated by Estonian Biobank, another project recruiting the general population ( Leitsalu et al, 2015 ).…”

Precision Medicine and Public Health: New Challenges for Effective and Sustainable Health

“…The increasing demand for DTC-GTs among laypeople, together with their peculiar provisional model—i.e., not requiring counseling by health professionals—need not only a careful analysis of the potential benefits and risks by policy-makers [ 195 ], but also informed citizens who can be aware of them and, consequently, make appropriate decisions about their health [ 192 ]. For these reasons, citizens’ literacy in omics sciences, which is poor according to the literature [ 196 ], should be increased using appropriate and effective initiatives and strategies. This is what has emerged from a recently published systematic review of the literature [ 196 ].…”

“…For these reasons, citizens’ literacy in omics sciences, which is poor according to the literature [ 196 ], should be increased using appropriate and effective initiatives and strategies. This is what has emerged from a recently published systematic review of the literature [ 196 ]. The study summarizes the current knowledge of citizens’ literacy, attitudes, and educational needs in omics sciences, underlining the need for strengthening public engagement on this topic.…”

A Web Screening on Educational Initiatives to Increase Citizens’ Literacy on Genomics and Genetics

“…In addition, the adoption of omics technologies and practices will require citizens to be appropriately aware of their benefits, risks, and real utility. This might be achieved through the improvement of literacy of healthcare professionals and citizens ( Etchegary and Wilson, 2013 ; Calabrò et al, 2020 ). Increasing citizens’ literacy requires not only specific initiatives aimed at the appropriate and conscious utilization of the new “omics” technologies but also correct information of users, for example, on the direct-to-consumer genetic tests (DTC-GTs) ( Pearce et al, 2019 ; Hoxhaj et al, 2020 ; Pastorino et al, 2021 ).…”