Open AccessPerspectives on Precision Health Among Racial/Ethnic Minority Communities and the Physicians That Serve Them
Author(s) -
Lisa G. Rosas,
Catherine Nasrallah,
Van Ta Park,
Jan J. Vasquez,
Ysabel Durón,
Owen Garrick,
Riccesha Hattin,
Mildred Cho,
Sean P. David,
Jill Evans,
Rhonda McClinton-Brown,
Christopher Martin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
ethnicity and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.767
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1945-0826
pISSN - 1049-510X
DOI - 10.18865/ed.30.s1.137
Subject(s) - vietnamese , health equity , ethnic group , distrust , community based participatory research , focus group , family medicine , community health center , medicine , participatory action research , psychology , medical education , nursing , political science , sociology , public health , philosophy , linguistics , anthropology , law , psychotherapist
Background: In order for precision health to address health disparities, engagement of diverse racial/ethnic minority communities and the physicians that serve them is critical.Methods: A community-based participatory research approach with mixed methods was employed to gain a deeper understanding of precision health research and practice among American Indian, African American, Latino, Chinese, and Vietnamese groups and physicians that serve these communities. A survey assessed demographics and opinions of precision health, genetic testing, and precision health research. Focus groups (n=12) with each racial/ethnic minority group and physicians further explored attitudes about these topics.Results: One hundred community members (American Indian [n=17], African American [n=13], Chinese [n=17], Latino [n=27], and Vietnamese [n=26]) and 14 physicians completed the survey and participated in the focus groups. Familiarity with precision health was low among community members and high among physicians. Most groups were enthusiastic about the approach, especially if it considered influences on health in addition to genes (eg, environmental, behavioral, social factors). Significant concerns were expressed by African American and American Indian participants about precision health practice and research based on past abuses in biomedical research. In addition, physician and community members shared concerns such as security and confidentiality of genetic information, cost and affordability of genetic tests and precision medicine, discrimination and disparities, distrust of medical and research and pharmaceutical institutions, language barriers, and physician’s specialty.Conclusions: Engagement of racial/ethnic minority communities and the providers who serve them is important for advancing a precision health approach to addressing health disparities.Ethn Dis. 2020;30(Suppl 1):137-148; doi:10.18865/ed.30.S1.137