Clinicians’ and Researchers’ Views on Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation: Practices, Benefits and Challenges

Abstract

(1) Background: Due to the high burden of diseases with chronic inflammation as an underlying condition, great expectations are placed in the development of precision medicine (PM). Our research explores the benefits and possible risks of this development from the perspective of clinicians and researchers in the field. We have asked these professionals about the current state of their research and their expectations, concerns, values and attitudes regarding PM. (2) Methods: Following a grounded theory approach, we conducted qualitative interviews with 17 clinicians and researchers. For respondent validation, we discussed the findings with the participants in a validation workshop. (3) Results: Professionals expect multiple benefits from PM in chronic inflammation. They provided their concepts of professionals’ and patients’ work in the development of PM in chronic inflammatory diseases. Ethical, process-related and economic challenges were raised regarding the lack of integration of data from minority groups, the risk of data misuse and discrimination, the potential risk of no therapy being available for small strata, the lack of professional support and political measures in developing a healthy lifestyle, the problem of difficult access to the inflammation clinic for some populations and the difficulty of financing PM for all. (4) Conclusions: In the further research, development and implementation of PM, these ethical challenges need to be adequately addressed.