Integrated Precision Medicine Technologies
Research Center of Excellence

Publications

Following the approval and in consultation with the Director of Secondary Education, of the Ministry of Education and Culture, the team of the Integrated Precision Medicine Technologies Research Center of Excellence carried out the following visits to secondary schools:

  • Wednesday, 2/5/2018, Paralimni Lyceum (A. Odysseos, C. Pitris)
  • Wednesday, 2/5/2018, Lyceum of Kokkinohoria, Frenaros (A. Odysseos, C. Pitris)
  • Friday, May 4, 2018, High School of Idalion (C. Pattichis)
  • Monday, 7/5/2018, High School of Arch. Makarios III, Dasoupolis (C. Pitris)
  • Wednesday, 9/5/2018, Akakio High School (A. Odysseos, C. Pitris)

During the visits the lecture of Appendix 5 was presented. The purpose of the presentation was to introduce the students to the concepts of Precision Medicine but also to inform them about the efforts to create the Center of Excellence. The presentations were attended by more than 150 students who were very positive about their experience.

During the visits, anonymous information was collected through the questionnaire given in the box below. The purpose of the questionnaire was to assess students' perceptions of Precision Medicine and research, in general, before and after the lecture. Based on the answers of the students, in the questionnaires completed before and after the presentation, some very interesting conclusions were drawn:

  • Both the belief that there is the possibility of international-level research and a research career in Cyprus and the possibility of creating an International Center for Research on Precision Medicine Technologies in Cyprus (questions 7 and 8) were evaluated before the presentation with grades below 3 (2.84 and 2.90 respectively) on a scale from 1 to 5. After the presentation, the grade went up for both (3.67 and 3.77 respectively).
  • The percentage of students who correctly understood all factors influencing the effectiveness of health care provision (question 3) improved after the presentation (from 53% to 61%) but not statistically significantly (p = 0.111).
  • There was some uncertainty about the question of the use of devices or drugs exclusively in a patient (question 5) that was answered correctly at a lower rate after the presentation (63% to 43%).

 

PRECISION MEDICINE – Questionnaire and Results
   

% Correct

  
 

Before

After

p

1. How much do EU countries spend each day for health?

  1. 400,000 Euro
  2. 4,000,000 Euro
  3. 400,000,000 Euro
  4. 4,000,000,000 Euro
  5. None of the above

24.8%

93.9%

0.0000

2. In which of the following health-related activities is the most money spent?

  1. In treating patients who will eventually become totally well
  2. In preventive programs for frequent illnesses
  3. In patients who will not respond and will not be cured
  4. In the treatment of side effects and adverse reactions
  5. In rehabilitation therapies for patients with disabilities

11.1%

22.8%

0.0082

3. What is the reason for the inadequate response and the great loss of money in the way we treat each patient today?

  1. The different genetic (hereditary) characteristics of each patient
  2. The way in which each patient nourishes and behaves
  3. The way in which his/her illness manifests
  4. None of the above
  5. All above

52.9%

60.9%

0.1110

4. Which of the following DOES NOT correspond to the term "Precision Medicine"?

  1. The right treatment for the right patient at the right dose and at the right time
  2. That treatment is based on information about the clinical, genetic and environmental characteristics of each patient
  3. A rare and costly treatment for a very serious illness.
  4. Treatment regimens that suggest decision-making on the provision of health services tailored to the needs of each patient.
  5. A treatment adapted to the specific characteristics of each patient.

35.3%

62.3%

0.0002

5. To achieve "Precision medicine" we must create medicines or medical devices that can only be used for that particular patient. True or False?

  1. True                 Β. False

63.2%

43.0%

0.0021

6. To achieve "Precision Medicine" we should be able to separate patients into subgroups based on (a) their different sensitivity to developing a disease, (b) the different biological way in which this disease develops within each patient, (c) the different ways in which they respond to each form of treatment. True or False?

  1. True                Β. False

83.1%

92.0%

0.0054

7. Do you think there is a possibility for international-level research and a career as a researcher in Cyprus. From 1 (unlikely) to 5 (very likely)

1         2             3             4            5

2.84

3.67

0.0000

8. Do you believe that there is the possibility of creating in Cyprus an International Research Center for "Precision Medicine Technologies". From 1 (unlikely) to 5 (very likely)

1         2             3             4            5

2.90

3.77

0.0000