New 23andMe Surveys Find Most People and Doctors Agree that Genetic Testing Offers Promise for More Personalized Healthcare

• 92 percent of doctors in the U.S. say genetics is an important part of a patient’s complete health picture

• 66 percent of doctors say genetic testing could help lead to better outcomes for their patients

• 75 percent of people in the US said they’d be more likely to follow their doctor’s advice if they knew their genetic profile was used to personalize their care

A large percentage of people and doctors in the US say that using genetic testing could make healthcare more personalized and effective, according to new surveys by 23andMe.

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The data comes from two national surveys on attitudes from both primary care physicians and the general population about the role genetic testing might play in making healthcare more personalized.

“I am excited about a future where genetic information becomes the foundation of personalized health,” said Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe CEO and Co-Founder. “Since starting the company, 23andMe has been focused on helping our customers — and the world — benefit from genetics based prevention and treatment.”

While the surveys found opportunities, they also noted issues with the current state of healthcare.

For instance, more than half of people surveyed (55 percent) said they don’t feel healthy today and 63 percent said they don’t feel in control of their health. And while most people surveyed (62 percent) said they wanted advice from their doctors that was tailored to them personally, few, only about 36 percent, said that’s what they were getting.

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For doctors, testing offers a potential way to connect with their patients.

The survey of doctors — the third in a series of research surveys gauging doctors’ attitudes about genetic testing conducted by Medscape since 2018 — showed a marked change among physicians. While genetics — along with lifestyle, family health history and environmental factors — has always played a role in health outcomes, the survey showed a significant shift in awareness of the importance of genetics in health. In 2018 only about three in ten doctors said they regularly saw patient cases involving genetics. In this latest survey, more than half, 51 percent, of primary care physicians surveyed said they encountered one or more clinical cases a week where genetics plays a role. This most recent survey done in late 2022 also found that 34 percent of doctors said they had personally taken a direct-to-consumer genetic health test.

In addition, 62 percent of doctors today say that genetic testing can help them provide more personalized care. And 92 percent of doctors say genetics is an important part of a patient’s health profile.

Most people agreed, with three-quarters of those surveyed (75 percent) saying they’d be more likely to adhere to doctor’s advice if they knew their genetic information was used to personalize their care.

“Today, millions of people have used direct-to-consumer genetic testing to learn about their health,” said Noura Abul-Husn, Vice President of Genomic Health at 23andMe. “That presents an opportunity for primary care physicians to engage with patients in their personal health risks, and work with them to potentially prevent disease, tailor management, and improve overall health outcomes.”

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