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Objectives To explore attitudes of Swiss older adults towards personal genomics (PG). Methods Using an anonymized voluntary paper-and-pencil survey, data were collected from 151 men and women aged 60–89 years attending the Seniorenuniversität Zurich, Switzerland (Seniors' University). Analyses were conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results One third of the respondents were aware of PG, and more than half indicated interest in undergoing PG testing. The primary motivation provided was respondents' interest in finding out about their own disease risk, followed by willingness to contribute to scientific research. Forty-four percent were not interested in undergoing testing because results might be worrisome, or due to concerns about the validity of the results. Only a minority of respondents mentioned privacy-related concerns. Further, 66% were interested in undergoing clinic-based PG motivated by the opportunity to contribute to scientific research (78%) and 75% of all study participants indicated strong preferences to donate genomic data to public research institutions. Conclusion This study indicates a relatively positive overall attitude towards personal genomic testing among older Swiss adults, a group not typically represented in surveys about personal genomics. Genomic data of older adults can be highly relevant to late life health and maintenance of quality of life. In addition they can be an invaluable source for better understanding of longevity, health and disease. Understanding the attitudes of this population towards genomic analyses, although important, remains under-examined., Applied and Translational Genomics, 8, ISSN:2212-0661

Personal health data supplied by users of mobile devices, health apps, and the social Web and data from tracking of consumers’ online behavior — coupled with advanced bioinformatics tools — offer opportunities for use in health research. A central ethical question is whether individuals who have provided personal information online in nonresearch contexts have consented to research uses. Here, we explore this issue of informed consent, discuss some limitations of current practices, and offer recommendations for improving consent practices through a more tailored, context-sensitive approach that makes use of the dynamism of the Web-based context. Our proposals are rooted in the ethical imperative of protecting individual rights and respecting autonomy while enabling a dynamic research environment for the advancement of clinical medicine and public health.