Barriers to Personalised Prevention: Perspectives from a Multi-Stakeholder Consultation

Abstract Background The high and increasing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) demands a healthcare shift towards prevention. Personalised preventive interventions (PPIs) that consider biological, sociocultural, environmental, and behavioural characteristics of individuals, are not as widely adopted as other personalised medicine approaches. To identify the main barriers and gaps that are hindering the adoption of PPIs in healthcare systems, we consulted a wide range of European stakeholders, including health professionals, policy makers, citizens and patients, and researchers. Methods The consultation process included experts’ interviews and an online survey, taking place over 10 months in 2023/2024. Interviews were analysed using qualitative Thematic Analysis. The online survey development was based on the barriers identified by the interviewed experts, complemented with findings from the literature. Respondents scored their level of agreement/disagreement using a 6-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results A total of 26 semi-structured interviews and 270 complete surveys were obtained. Overall, the main barriers highlighted were: 1) Health systems strategies are geared towards curative care and not prevention. 2) Awareness and understanding of the concept of PPIs is low. 3) There is a lack of basic and life-long training for health professionals on PPIs; 4) There is insufficient evidence for PPIs to raise the necessary policymakers’ interest. 5) Health literacy of citizens and patients is low. 6) There is insufficient prevention research, evidence of cost-efficiency and regulation procedures for translation into health practice. Conclusions Identified barriers are interconnected and the challenges extend beyond prevention to personalized medicine interventions. Collaborative efforts are needed to elevate visibility and engage stakeholders, facilitating integration of PPIs into healthcare systems for widespread adoption. Key messages • This consultation offers valuable insights on challenges that need to be addressed to enable the integration of PPIs into healthcare and reduce the burden of NCDs. • Investments in disease prevention and PPIs should stand as a global key priority.