What is it about?
This research looks into how people perceive the use of Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS), a new genetic tool that can predict the risk of developing certain diseases based on a person's genes. By using online surveys, interviews, and workshops, the study aims to understand public concerns and expectations about PRS. It also explores how design methods can help explain this complex technology and gather feedback from the public on its future use.
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Why is it important?
Polygenic Risk Scores represent a significant advancement in personalized healthcare, offering the potential to predict disease risk more accurately than ever before. However, their adoption faces challenges such as public scepticism, privacy concerns, and potential health disparities. By understanding public perceptions and addressing these concerns through innovative design methods, this research aims to make PRS more accessible and acceptable, thereby enhancing its integration into healthcare practices.
Perspectives
Writing this extended abstract allowed me to bridge the gap between advanced genetic technologies and everyday people. My background in computer science and healthcare inspired me to use design methods to make these complex concepts understandable and relatable. I hope this research will not only inform healthcare professionals and policymakers but also engage the general public in meaningful discussions about the future of personalized health services.
Yuhao Sun
University of Edinburgh
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Design for Debate: Exploring Public Perceptions of an Emerging Genetics Health Prediction Service ‘Polygenic Risk Score’ Through Design Methods, July 2024, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery),
DOI: 10.1145/3656156.3665137.
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