Journal Article

Clinician’s perspectives on gene therapy for Alzheimer’s disease: A qualitative study

Johnson, Kim G., Gupta, Ishika, Smith, Samantha I., Kelemen, Lilly, Boucher, Nathan A., Yavarow, Zollie

2024

Overview

We aimed to understand clinician views regarding gene therapy as a future treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and potential barriers and facilitators to its use. We interviewed ten clinicians who treat patients with AD. Clinicians helped design a semi-structured interview including the following domains: establishing understanding, cost/access, quality of life, and religion/spirituality. Transcripts were analyzed by a coding team using descriptive content analysis with inductive approach. Clinicians identified three main areas of concern: 1) potential clinician and patient understanding of gene therapy and Alzheimer's disease 2) consideration of inequity (i.e., care access, disease awareness along with education level, family support, trust in care systems); and 3) considerations in decision-making (i.e., religious/spiritual beliefs and method of treatment delivery as a decision-making tools). Findings highlight areas for knowledge-building for patients and clinicians alike. Clinicians must be aware of patient/family educational needs and gaps in their own clinical knowledge before engaging patients/families with new technology. Allowing time for questions is crucial to building rapport and trust.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Adult / Advertising executives / Alzheimer Disease - genetics / Alzheimer Disease - psychology / Alzheimer Disease - therapy / Alzheimer's disease / Apolipoproteins / Attitude of Health Personnel / Biology and Life Sciences / Brain research / Care and treatment / Caregivers / Content analysis / Cost analysis / Decision Making / Dementia / Development and progression / Disease / Diseases / Drug therapy / Education / FDA approval / Female / Gene therapy / Genes / Genetic research / Genetic Therapy - methods / Health care policy / Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Health risk assessment / Health services / Humans / Interviews / Male / Medical research / Medicine and Health Sciences / Medicine, Experimental / Middle Aged / Minority & ethnic groups / Neurodegeneration / Neurodegenerative diseases / Patients / Qualitative Research / Quality of Life / Research and Analysis Methods / Research methodology / Social networks / Social Sciences