Genomic Medicine Practice Among Physicians in Taiwan

Abstract

Aim: To examine genomic medicine (GM) practice and associated factors (i.e., attitudes, intention, self-efficacy, previous training in genomics, and demographic characteristics) among Taiwanese physicians. Methods: A survey was distributed to physicians attending an internal training workshop at a large medical center in Taiwan. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: A total of 137 physicians comprised our final sample; less than a third of them had practiced GM. Yet, participants overall had positive intention, favorable attitudes, and high self-efficacy in GM practice. Moreover, intention, attitudes, self-efficacy, educational level, and continuing education in GM were positively and significantly associated with participants’ GM practice. Conclusion: Offering continuing education for Taiwanese physicians is needed to enhance their practice in GM.

Keywords::

• attitudes
• genomic medicine
• intention
• physician
• self-efficacy
• Taiwan

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2217/pme-2016-0067

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the physicians who took out time to participate in our survey at Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

All procedures of this study were approved by Institution Review Boards at both Texas A & M University in the USA and the Tri-Service General Hospital in Taiwan.

In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.