BACKGROUND: Public support for the implementation of personalised medicine policies (PMPs) within routine care is important due to the high financial costs involved and the potential for redirection of resources from other services.
AIMS: We aimed to determine the attributes of a PMP most likely to elicit public support for implementation. We also aimed to determine whether such support differed for a depression PMP differed to one for cystic fibrosis (CF).
METHODS: In a discrete-choice experiment, paired vignettes illustrating both the current model of care (CMoC) and a hypothetical PMP for either depression or CF were presented to a representative sample of the United Kingdom public (n = 2,804). Each vignette integrated varying attributes, Including anticipated therapeutic benefit over CMoC, and the annual cost to the taxpayer. Respondents were invited to express their preference for either the PMP or CMoC within each pair.
RESULTS: The financial cost was the most important attribute influencing public support for PMPs. Respondents favoured PMP implementation where it benefitted a higher proportion of patients or was anticipated to be more effective than CMoC. A reduction in services for non-eligible patients reduced the likelihood of support for PMP. Respondents were more willing to fund PMPs for CF than for depression.
CONCLUSIONS: Cost is a significant factor in the public's support for PMP, but essential caveats, such as protection for services available to PMP-ineligible patients, may also apply. Further research should explore the factors contributing to condition-specific nuances in public support for PMPs also exist.
