Clinical delivery of pharmacogenetic testing services: a proposed partnership between genetic counselors and pharmacists

Patient perspectives of a multidisciplinary Pharmacogenomics clinic

AIM

To assess patient perspectives following evaluation in a multidisciplinary pharmacogenomics clinic run by a clinical pharmacist, genetic counselor, and physician.

METHODS

A survey was distributed to 187 adults seen in the Brigham and Women's Hospital Pharmacogenomics Clinic. Participants who completed the survey were invited to complete a semi-structured interview. Interview subjects were selected based on order of responses, scheduling availability, and range of participant experiences with testing and the clinic process. Surveys were analyzed with descriptive statistics, and interview transcripts were analyzed with thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Forty-two survey responses were received; 13 participants were interviewed. Quantitative data demonstrated high satisfaction with the multidisciplinary clinic model and belief that pharmacogenomic testing has value. Qualitative analysis identified four themes: 1) Self-Advocacy as a Patient Responsibility in the Utilization of Pharmacogenomic Results, 2) High Satisfaction with Multidisciplinary Pharmacogenomics Clinic Model and Team, 3) Utility of Pharmacogenomics, and 4) Desire for Pharmacogenomics Resources.

CONCLUSION

Patients value the care provided by a multidisciplinary pharmacogenomics clinic team, but they need to advocate for the use of their results with other healthcare professionals.

Implementation of pharmacogenetic testing in pediatric oncology: barriers and facilitators assessment at eight Canadian academic health centres

Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing can enhance drug safety, improve efficacy, and reduce the risk of toxicity. However, the implementation of PGx testing in Canadian pediatric oncology centers has been limited. To address this gap, the aim of this study was to assess the barriers and facilitators to implementing PGx testing for three oncology drugs in eight Canadian pediatric oncology centers and identify strategies that could be used to support PGx testing implementation. We used semi-structured interviews to identify barriers and facilitators to PGx testing and identified evidence-based strategies for PGx testing implementation through a mapping process that utilized the Theoretical Domains Framework, the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and the Behavior Change Wheel. We identified 38 facilitators and 26 barriers to implementation of PGx testing and mapped these to 6 implementation strategies.

Experience and expectations of pharmacogenetic tests in France

Although French genomic medicine is reaching a turning point in its history and the implementation of genome sequencing in routine is being implemented as part of the France Genomic Medicine 2025 Plan (FGMP), many questions about secondary data management remain to be addressed. In particular, the use of pharmacogenetic (PGx) information that can be extracted from genome data is a concern. We sought to analyze the opinion of French health professionals on their desire to have access to this information. For this purpose, we created a 22-item questionnaire on the experiences, attitudes, expectations, and knowledge of French physicians and pharmacists about PGx. We collected the responses in different groups and determined a knowledge score with the last 3 questions of the questionnaire. Then, we built a prediction model for this score and determined which factors may influence it. Half of the responders were physicians (158/311) and the other half were pharmacists (153/311), and the majority of them worked in a hospital (265/311). Almost two third (62.7%, 195/311) of the responders thought that pharmacogenetic data should be communicated with genomic results for the primary indication within the framework of FGMP, and 89.1% (277/311) of them that PGx tests could be an interesting tool to optimize patients' drug therapy in the future. Only 11.2% (35/311) of the responders reached the maximum knowledge score, while 25.4% (76/311) had already prescribed or recommended a PGx test. This study identified a need for training for French physicians and pharmacists in PGx, particularly given the interest of health professionals in it.

Assessment of the current status of real-world pharmacogenomic testing: informed consent, patient education, and related practices

Introduction: The practice of informed consent (IC) for pharmacogenomic testing in clinical settings varies, and there is currently no consensus on which elements of IC to provide to patients. This study aims to assess current IC practices for pharmacogenomic testing. Methods: An online survey was developed and sent to health providers at institutions that offer clinical germline pharmacogenomic testing to assess current IC practices. Results: Forty-six completed surveys representing 43 clinical institutions offering pharmacogenomic testing were received. Thirty-two (74%) respondents obtain IC from patients with variability in elements incorporated. Results revealed that twenty-nine (67%) institutions discuss the benefits, description, and purpose of pharmacogenomic testing with patients. Less commonly discussed elements included methodology and accuracy of testing, and laboratory storage of samples. Discussion: IC practices varied widely among survey respondents. Most respondents desire the establishment of consensus IC recommendations from a trusted pharmacogenomics organization to help address these disparities.

Should secondary pharmacogenomic variants be actively screened and reported when diagnostic genome-wide sequencing is performed in a child?

This white paper was prepared by the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health Regulatory and Ethics Work Stream's Pediatric Task Team to review and provide perspective with respect to ethical, legal, and social issues regarding the return of secondary pharmacogenomic variants in children who have a serious disease or developmental disorder and are undergoing exome or genome sequencing to identify a genetic cause of their condition. We discuss actively searching for and reporting pharmacogenetic/genomic variants in pediatric patients, different methods of returning secondary pharmacogenomic findings to the patient/parents and/or treating clinicians, maintaining these data in the patient's health record over time, decision supports to assist using pharmacogenetic results in future treatment decisions, and sharing information in public databases to improve the clinical interpretation of pharmacogenetic variants identified in other children. We conclude by presenting a series of points to consider for clinicians and policymakers regarding whether, and under what circumstances, routine screening and return of pharmacogenomic variants unrelated to the indications for testing is appropriate in children who are undergoing genome-wide sequencing to assist in the diagnosis of a suspected genetic disease.

Genetic counseling graduate program faculty perspectives on sharing education materials among programs

Rapid advancements in genetics care requires responsive genetic counseling (GC) training capable of integrating new discoveries and practice into their curricula. The utilization of shared or standardized educational resources may address this need. Recognizing the potential of shared resources, the Pharmacogenetics (PGx) Working Group of the NSGC Precision Medicine Special Interest Group (SIG) launched a standardized education module using a flipped-classroom format to provide all GC programs equal access to PGx expertise and alleviate the burden of curriculum development. Following the initial success of the program, we aimed to explore the utilization of shared and standardized education resources more broadly, and better understand the perspectives of GC program faculty regarding their use. Twenty-nine program faculty representing at least 14 programs responded to an online survey. The majority (n = 21) reported sharing educational materials with another GC program, and 90% of those reported the shared materials to be beneficial as they promote collaboration, efficiency, address a gap in content, and provide access to experts. Similar benefits were described when using a standardized curriculum, which was defined as standardized lectures and activities created about a particular topic and made available to all genetic counseling programs; 16 participants indicated they would be very likely or likely to use a standardized curriculum. A secondary aim of the survey was to assess the existing PGx module that utilizes a flipped-classroom format. Overall, the PGx module was well received, indicating that a standardized shared module is well-suited for instruction on emerging and specialty topics. All participants believed the flipped-classroom format to be very or somewhat beneficial. In summary, results indicate that shared educational materials, including standardized education modules, are a potential solution to challenges related to efficiency and access to content experts in GC education, and program leadership is receptive to using them.

The attitude and behaviors of the different spheres of the community of the United Arab Emirates toward the clinical utility and bioethics of secondary genetic findings: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Genome sequencing has utility, however, it may reveal secondary findings. While Western bioethicists have been occupied with managing secondary findings, specialists' attention in the Arabic countries has not yet been captured. We aim to explore the attitude of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population toward secondary findings.

METHOD

We conducted a cross-sectional study between July and December 2022. The validated questionnaire was administered in English. The questionnaire consists of six sections addressing topics such as demographics, reactions to hypothetical genetic test results, disclosure of mutations to family members, willingness to seek genetic testing, and attitudes toward consanguinity. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used to investigate associations between categorical variables.

RESULTS

We had 343 participants of which the majority were female (67%). About four-fifths (82%) were willing to know the secondary findings, whether the condition has treatment or not. The most likely action to take among the participants was to know the secondary findings, so they can make life choices (61%).

CONCLUSION

These results can construct the framework of the bioethics of disclosing secondary findings in the Arab regions.

The Critical Role of Pharmacists in the Clinical Delivery of Pharmacogenetics in the U.S

Since the rebirth of pharmacogenomics (PGx) in the 1990s and 2000s, with new discoveries of genetic variation underlying adverse drug response and new analytical technologies such as sequencing and microarrays, there has been much interest in the clinical application of PGx testing. The early involvement of pharmacists in clinical studies and the establishment of organizations to support the dissemination of information about PGx variants have naturally resulted in leaders in clinical implementation. This paper presents an overview of the evolving role of pharmacists, and discusses potential challenges and future paths, primarily focused in the U.S. Pharmacists have positioned themselves as leaders in clinical PGx testing, and will prepare the next generation to utilize PGx testing in their scope of practice.

Assessing the pharmacy students' knowledge of genetic counseling with genetic variants that are associated with inherited disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To assess pharmacy students' understanding of the importance of genetic counseling through a didactic lecture and active in-class learning exercise in a required pharmacogenomics course.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING

During the second year, students are enrolled in a two-credit hour pharmacogenomics course which is taught by multiple faculty members from various disciplines. The pharmacy students were taught the clinical importance of genetic results and counseling patients on their individualized reports by a clinical laboratory geneticist and a clinical genetic counselor. After completion of the didactic portion of the class, students practiced genetic counseling skills through role playing with clinical cases involving genetic reports. Students' knowledge of clinical applications of pharmacogenomic data was assessed prior to and following the counseling experience.

FINDINGS

A paired sample t-test was chosen to analyze the data to determine if there was a difference in mean scores upon the completion of the lecture. There was a statistically significant mean difference between the total scores for the pretest (mean (M) = 37.89, SD = 6.66) and the total scores for the posttest (M = 48.33, SD = 5.24); t(140) = 17.53, P < .001, α = 0.05. The effect size for this analysis (d = 1.74) surpassed Cohen's determination for large effect (d = 0.8).

SUMMARY

The genetic counseling lecture and activity increased the students' overall awareness of the importance of how sensitive genetic information is reported and delivered to patients.

Genetics professionals are key to the integration of genetic testing within the practice of frontline clinicians

PURPOSE

Genetic tests have become widely available. We sought to understand the use of genetic tests in the practice of frontline clinicians within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

METHODS

We administered a web-based survey to clinicians at 20 VA facilities. Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists were eligible. We excluded genetics providers and clinicians not seeing patients. We used multiple logistic regression to evaluate the associations between clinician characteristics and experience with genetics.

RESULTS

The response rate was 11.3% (1207/10,680) and of these, 909 respondents were eligible. Only 20.8% of the respondents reported feeling prepared to use genetic tests and 13.0% of the respondents were currently ordering genetic tests; although, it was usually only 1 or 2 a year. Delivery of genetic tests without involving genetics providers was preferred by only 7.9% of the respondents. Characteristics positively associated with currently ordering genetic tests included practice in clinical and research settings, believing improving genetics knowledge could alter their practice, feeling prepared to use genetic tests, and referral of at least 1 patient to genetics in the past year.

CONCLUSION

Most VA clinicians don't feel prepared to use genetic tests. Those with genetic testing experience are more likely to consult genetics providers. The demand for genetics providers should increase as frontline clinicians use genetic tests in their practice.

Physicians' Knowledge, Attitude, and Experience of Pharmacogenomic Testing in China

(1) Background: As prescribers, physicians play a decisive role in applying and promoting pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing in clinical practices. So far, little is known about physicians' perspectives on PGx testing in China. The aim of this study was to assess physicians' knowledge of, attitude towards, and experience of PGx testing in China. (2) Methods: A 39-question online survey was developed. Participants were physicians recruited through two platforms, MEDLINKER and "Dazhuanjia". (3) Results: A total of 450 respondents completed the survey and 366 questionnaires were eligible for analysis based on the inclusion criteria. Among all included physicians, 275 (75.1%) had heard of PGx testing before. More than half rated their knowledge of PGx testing as "Fair" (61.5%) while 20.0% chose "Excellent" or "Good" and 18.6% chose "Poor" or "Terrible". "Guidelines, consensus, and treatment paths for disease diagnosis and treatment" (72.7%) were the most preferred sources of information about PGx testing. Respondents were confident in their personal capacity to conduct PGx, with an average score of 3.30 ± 0.09 (out of 5.00). Most respondents (75.6%) believed that PGx could "help to improve efficacy and reduce the incidence of adverse reactions". Targeted cancer therapy (score 78.95 ± 1.26 out of 100) was considered the field where PGx testing had its highest value. Lack of professionals and knowledge (n = 186, 67.6%), high costs of testing (n = 170, 61.8%), and lack of hospitals to offer PGx testing (n = 166, 60.4%) were identified as the primary obstacles to increasing the uptake of PGx testing in China. Academic conference (n = 213, 72.4%) was considered the most efficient way for physicians to obtain information about PGx testing. (4) Conclusions: Physicians in China have poor knowledge about PGx testing; nonetheless, they generally had confidence in their capacity to order PGx testing and positive attitudes towards the use of PGx testing in routine clinical practices. Future efforts to promote the uptake of PGx testing should focus on foundational education and practical training.

Pharmacist and genetic counselor collaboration in pharmacogenomics

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles related to the COVID-19 pandemic, AJHP is posting these manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

Patients' perspectives of a pharmacist-provided clinical pharmacogenomics service

Aim: To assess the perspectives and experiences of patients who participated in a pharmacist-provided clinical pharmacogenomics (PGx) service. Methods: We conducted individual semistructured interviews with 16 patients who received a pharmacist-provided PGx service. Qualitative data were analyzed to identify pertinent themes. Results: The major themes identified were: heterogeneity of patient PGx experiences and preferences, pharmacists as appropriate providers of PGx services, considerations regarding the use of PGx results in routine healthcare, and perceived applications of PGx testing. Theme-derived considerations included the need to establish appropriate pre-genotyping expectations, individualize patient education, facilitate collaboration with patients' providers and sustainably update patients' PGx information over time. Conclusion: Patient-specific perspectives such as these are important to consider when providing clinical PGx services, with intention of optimizing patient experiences.

A Comprehensive Review of HLA and Severe Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions: Implication for Clinical Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) encoded by the HLA gene is an important modulator for immune responses and drug hypersensitivity reactions as well. Genetic polymorphisms of HLA vary widely at population level and are responsible for developing severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (SCARs) such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), maculopapular exanthema (MPE). The associations of different HLA alleles with the risk of drug induced SJS/TEN, DRESS and MPE are strongly supportive for clinical considerations. Prescribing guidelines generated by different national and international working groups for translation of HLA pharmacogenetics into clinical practice are underway and functional in many countries, including Thailand. Cutting edge genomic technologies may accelerate wider adoption of HLA screening in routine clinical settings. There are great opportunities and several challenges as well for effective implementation of HLA genotyping globally in routine clinical practice for the prevention of drug induced SCARs substantially, enforcing precision medicine initiatives.

Pharmacogenetics: Knowledge assessment amongst Syrian pharmacists and physicians

Background

Pharmacogenetics targets genetic variations that influence drug response. It is relatively a new science that has not been vastly employed in most developing countries including Syria. Therefore we aimed at evaluating the depth of knowledge in pharmacogenetics and the attitude towards it amongst Syrian pharmacists and physicians.

Methods

We carried out an internet-based questionnaire consisted of 26 questions, sent through specialized websites and private groups with a large number of pharmacists and physicians members. The survey was available online for a period of 1 month.

Results

The total number of respondents was 154, mostly female pharmacists. Our statistical analysis showed a strong positive association between profession (in favour of pharmacists) and pharmacogenetics knowledge p = 0.049; however, no correlation with experience p = 0.811 was found. A significant difference was reported between the knowledge of pharmacists and physicians p = 0.001 concerning drugs that need pharmacogenetics testing before being prescribed. The majority of respondents had no information about applying genetic tests in Syria before prescribing medications nor did they possess the knowledge regarding drugs that show differential responses in patients according to their unique genotypes. In our study, the percentage knowledge assessment score was low in general (mean ± Standard deviation, SD) (46% ± 13.9%). The majority of the respondents agreed that pharmacists should provide counselling to patients on the subject of pharmacogenetics. Respondents’ opinions varied concerning making pharmacogenetics learning a priority.

Conclusion

Lack of pharmacogenetics knowledge was found amongst respondents in general. Our findings raise concerns about the lack of awareness amongst physicians, which may hinder the implementation of this crucial field in Syria. We suggest an emphasis on the role of education, training, and conducting genotyping research on the Syrian population.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-07040-9.

Development of a laboratory-based pharmacogenomics independent study and advanced pharmacy practice experience: Connecting basic science to clinical application

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The role of pharmacists in pharmacogenomics (PGx) use clinically is expanding, leading to increased pharmacy education requirements. Current reports indicate that PGx is primarily taught through didactic courses, indicating a need for applied coursework in pharmacy curricula, including laboratory exercises and clinical experiences. Such courses are instrumental in helping students connect the science of PGx to patient care.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING

An advanced PGx independent study and a similar advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) were developed. These courses included personal genetic testing, raw genetic sequence data analysis, and wet-laboratory genetic testing. The APPE included sessions with clinical pharmacists who use PGx and a genetic counselor, as well as a visit to a genetic reference laboratory. A pre-/post-examination and survey were used to measure the courses' effectiveness and student perceptions of their abilities, PGx, and course components. For this pilot study one student per course was evaluated.

FINDINGS

Each student completed all components of the courses successfully, supporting the feasibility of their implementation. Examination scores increased for both students with improvement in knowledge from basic genetics to clinical application. Both students also had a more positive perception of PGx after the courses and valued the various course components.

SUMMARY

Through this unique course format, pharmacy students developed expertise in understanding and implementing PGx which allowed them to gain skills that go beyond an introductory course. Our experience may provide guidance to other pharmacy programs in adding more applied PGx education to their curricula.

Toward Interprofessional Education of Pharmacogenomics: An Interdisciplinary Assessment

INTRODUCTION

Pharmacogenomics, which emerged from disciplines such as pharmacology and genetics, is an increasingly important interdisciplinary field of health research, as indicated by the rapid growth of related literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge among genetics and pharmacology health-care students and to evaluate their exposure to and perceptions of pharmacogenomics.

METHODS

An anonymous, 28-item online survey was distributed to medical and pharmacy students enrolled at Yarmouk University, Jordan.

RESULTS

The respondents (n = 300) had an overall moderate level of knowledge regarding genetics and pharmacology. Most respondents recognized the benefits of pharmacogenomics for therapy optimization, but they had insufficient exposure to the topic. Most respondents supported providing pharmacogenetic testing in Jordan. The most preferred educational format in pharmacogenomics was integration in pharmacology courses.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

Medical and pharmacy students are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of pharmacogenomics in therapy optimization. Challenges such as the complexity of the topic and low retention of previous knowledge should be addressed to promote pharmacogenomics education. More work is needed to increase students' exposure to pharmacogenomics information. A deeper integration of pharmacogenomics applications into pharmacology courses is proposed to emphasize applications of pharmacogenomics.

Pharmacogenomics research and its clinical implementation in Thailand: Lessons learned from the resource-limited settings

Several barriers present challenges to implementing pharmacogenomics into practice. This review will provide an overview of the current pharmacogenomics practices and research in Thailand, address the challenges and lessons learned from delivering clinical pharmacogenomic services in Thailand, emphasize the pharmacogenomics implementation issues that must be overcome, and identify current pharmacogenomic initiatives and plans to facilitate clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics in Thailand. Ever since the pharmacogenomics research began in 2004 in Thailand, a multitude of pharmacogenomics variants associated with drug responses have been identified in the Thai population, such as HLA-B∗15:02 for carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine, HLA-B∗58:01 for allopurinol, HLA-B∗13:01 for dapsone and cotrimoxazole, CYP2B6 variants for efavirenz, CYP2C9∗3 for phenytoin and warfarin, CYP3A5∗3 for tacrolimus, and UGT1A1∗6 and UGT1A1∗28 for irinotecan, etc. The future of pharmacogenomics guided therapy in clinical settings across Thailand appears promising because of the availability of evidence of clinical validity of the pharmacogenomics testing and support for reimbursement of pharmacogenomics testing.

Pharmacogenomic education among genetic counseling training programs in North America

The increasing number of genetic counselors participating directly in clinical pharmacogenomic post-test counseling prompted our evaluation of pharmacogenomic education across genetic counseling training programs in North America. Thirty-one program leadership participants from both the United States (U.S.) and Canada responded to a survey assessing pharmacogenomics education and the role of genetic counselors. Eighty-five percent of respondents agreed pharmacogenomics is currently within the scope of genetic counseling practice, and 96.3% indicated their training programs currently provide education on pharmacogenomics, with the majority reporting < 7 hr of education. Lectures on pharmacogenomics were the most common method for didactics; however, some programs also included practical modalities (e.g., case studies, clinical rotations) and online resources. Barriers to expanding pharmacogenomic education included the constrained timeline of training, and lack of resources and local expertise. Moreover, participants suggested that genetic counselors ideally should be able to order pharmacogenomic tests and counsel patients on pharmacogenomics, including result interpretation, as they believe pharmacogenomics does fall within the scope of practice of genetic counseling. Our novel results also confirm that training program leadership support a pharmacogenomic service delivery model that includes a combined effort between genetic counselors and pharmacists to utilize their synergistic expertise. However, this model likely still necessitates expanding pharmacogenomic didactics in genetic counseling training programs through more practical training and/or by leveraging online pharmacogenomic courses dedicated to supporting clinical implementation.

Olanzapine-Associated Rhabdomyolysis: A Case Report

This paper presents the case of a 20-year-old patient with a suspected diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. He was prescribed oral olanzapine at a dose of 10 mg per day, and the treatment was associated with rhabdomyolysis (serum creatine kinase = 9,725 U/L on day four of the therapy). On suspicion of its contribution to rhabdomyolysis, olanzapine was immediately withdrawn. Pharmacogenetic testing demonstrated that the patient’s CYP2D6 genotype was *4/*4 (1846G>A, rs3892097). Based on these results, the patient was switched to trifluoperazine, a medication that is not metabolized by the CYP2D6 isoenzyme. Subsequently, the patient recovered well and was discharged without any nephrological sequelae. The presented case demonstrates that pharmacogenetic‐guided personalization of treatment may allow selecting the best medication and determining the right dosage, resulting in the reduced risk of adverse drug reactions and pharmacoresistance.

Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Health Science Students in the United Arab Emirates toward Genomic Medicine and Pharmacogenomics: A Cross-Sectional Study

Medical and health science students represent future health professionals, and their perceptions are essential to increasing awareness on genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics. Lack of education is one of the significant barriers that may affect health professional's ability to interpret and communicate pharmacogenomics information and results to their clients. Our aim was to assess medical and health science students' knowledge, attitudes and perception for a better genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics practice in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated questionnaire distributed electronically to students recruited using random and snowball sampling methods. A total of 510 students consented and completed the questionnaire between December 2018 and October 2019. The mean knowledge score (SD) for students was 5.4 (±2.7). There were significant differences in the levels of knowledge by the year of study of bachelor's degree students, the completion status of training or education in pharmacogenomics (PGX) or pharmacogenetics and the completion of an internship or study abroad program (p-values < 0.05. The top two barriers that students identified in the implementation of genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics were lack of training or education (59.7%) and lack of clinical guidelines (58.7%). Concerns regarding confidentiality and discrimination were stated. The majority of medical and health science students had positive attitudes but only had a fair level of knowledge. Stakeholders in the UAE must strive to acquaint their students with up-to-date knowledge of genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics.

Knowledge, Perception, and Application of Pharmacogenomics Among Hospital Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia

Introduction

The accelerated transformation in the healthcare system supported by the Saudi Vision 2030 makes the present the best time to start the real application of pharmacogenomics in Saudi Arabia. The current study aimed to assess the knowledge, perception and the application status of pharmacogenomics among pharmacists in the hospital settings in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This cross-sectional observational survey was conducted among 206 qualified pharmacists working in Saudi hospitals. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to all participants.

Results

Only 30% of the pharmacists had received any type of formal training on PGx. Of these, only nine participants had actually put the knowledge into practice. Participants showed a moderate to low level of knowledge when responded to the pharmacogenomic knowledge indicators used in the study. The low knowledge and the availability of the pharmacogenetic test are the main barriers for the low adoption of the pharmacogenomics in the clinical practice. Approximately 83% felt the need to know more about pharmacogenomics. Participants show positive perception with high motivation levels to incorporate this technology in practice. For example, 76% stated that pharmacogenetic testing should be applied to pharmacy practice. Around 38% of participants reported that the Saudi government and the Saudi FDA had been promoting the pharmacogenomics. However, 50% of the total participants reported that their hospital management is unaware of the pharmacogenomics importance in clinical practice.

Discussion

This study emphasizes on two needs which can help promote the use and implementation of pharmacogenomics. One is the need to update the pharmacy education and training programs with pharmacogenomic-related areas to raise the pharmacist’s knowledge and practical skill to apply pharmacogenomics in the clinical practice effectively. Another need is to increase the awareness of the decision and policy-makers with the importance of pharmacogenomics for the patient benefit and safety. This preliminary evaluation will provide future insight into the best approach to applying pharmacogenomics in the Saudi healthcare system.

Patient perceptions of pharmacogenomic testing in the community pharmacy setting

BACKGROUND

In order to optimize community pharmacist roles and patient outcomes, a better understanding of patient perceptions of pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing may be helpful for successful integration into community pharmacy practice.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to identify patient perceptions related to PGx testing in the community pharmacy setting.

METHODS

Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with adults ≥18 years of age to gather their perceptions of PGx testing. Interview participants were taking either an antiplatelet agent or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor listed in Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) guidelines and were patients at one of two community pharmacies in West Michigan. Interview questions were designed to follow the Theory of Planned Behavior and to take into account existing literature on patient perceptions of PGx. Interviews were recorded, transcribed by a third party transcription service, coded by a team of three researchers to identify themes, and analyzed using nVivo qualitative analysis software.

RESULTS

A total of 19 interviews were conducted over a period of 16 days in June 2016. Upon preliminary evaluation, four themes related to patient perceptions of PGx testing were consistently observed across multiple interviews: 1) trust, 2) experience, 3) risk/benefit, and 4) clarity.

CONCLUSIONS

Semi-structured patient interviews revealed four themes related to PGx testing in the community pharmacy setting. These themes may influence the desire to pursue PGx testing. Future research may seek to identify how community pharmacists can communicate with patients about PGx in the context of these themes to empower patients to make positive health care decisions.

Pharmacogenomic (PGx) Counseling: Exploring Participant Questions about PGx Test Results

As pharmacogenomic (PGx) use in healthcare increases, a better understanding of patient needs will be necessary to guide PGx result delivery. The Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative (CPMC) is a prospective study investigating the utility of personalized medicine. Participants received online genetic risk reports for 27 potentially actionable complex diseases and 7 drug–gene pairs and could request free, telephone-based genetic counseling (GC). To explore the needs of individuals receiving PGx results, we conducted a retrospective qualitative review of inquiries from CPMC participants who requested counseling from March 2009 to February 2017. Eighty out of 690 (12%) total GC inquiries were focused on the discussion of PGx results, and six salient themes emerged: “general help”, “issues with drugs”, “relevant disease experience”, “what do I do now?”, “sharing results”, and “other drugs”. The number of reported medications with a corresponding PGx result and participant engagement were significantly associated with PGx GC requests (p < 0.01 and p < 0.02, respectively). Our work illustrates a range of questions raised by study participants receiving PGx test results, most of which were addressed by a genetic counselor with few requiring referrals to prescribing providers or pharmacists. These results further support a role for genetic counselors in the team-based approach to optimal PGx result delivery.

Opinion, experience and educational preferences concerning pharmacogenomics: an exploratory study of Quebec pharmacists

Aim: To evaluate the current opinion, experience and educational preferences of pharmacists in Quebec concerning pharmacogenomics. Method: A web-based survey containing 25 questions was sent to all Quebec pharmacists. Results: Most pharmacists were willing to advise patients (81%) and physicians (84%) on treatment choices based on pharmacogenomic test results after proper training. Only 31% had been previously exposed to pharmacogenomic test results, and 91% were favorable to pharmacogenomics training, with e-learning through interactive video sessions (69%). The preferred training session length was between 1 and 3 h (59%). Hospital pharmacists were more often exposed to pharmacogenomic tests (p < 0.0001) and more frequently advised patients on treatment choices (p < 0.001) than community pharmacists. Conclusion: Pharmacists remain favorable toward pharmacogenomics, but its use in clinical practice stays limited. Identifying the educational preferences of pharmacists may help in the development of educational programs to help them integrate pharmacogenomics in their clinical practice.

Knowledge and attitudes on pharmacogenetics among pediatricians

Increasing enthusiasm for clinical pharmacogenetic testing and the availability of pharmacogenetic-based guidelines indicate that pediatricians will increasingly be expected to interpret and apply pharmacogenetic test results into medical care. Previous studies have identified a lack of knowledge on pharmacogenetics across many physician specialties; however, this has not been systematically assessed among pediatricians. To evaluate pediatrician knowledge, attitude, and educational interest in pharmacogenetics, we surveyed physician cohorts from both the United States (U.S.) and Japan. A total of 282 pediatricians (210 from the U.S. and 72 from Japan) participated in an anonymous survey (online or hardcopy) on pharmacogenetics knowledge, perception, and education. Over 50% of all respondents had >10 years of clinical experience and >75% had some prior education in genetics. However, <10% felt they were familiar with pharmacogenetics, which was very consistent with <20% of the U.S. pediatricians correctly responding to a codeine/CYP2D6 pharmacogenetics knowledge question and <10% of U.S. pediatricians being aware of the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC). Despite being generally unfamiliar with pharmacogenetics, >80% of all respondents indicated that implementation of clinical pharmacogenetic testing will improve efficacy and safety, and that pediatricians should be capable of applying this testing to their practice. Moreover, the majority (83.1%) were interested in educational opportunities on pharmacogenetics, particularly on result interpretation and therapeutic recommendations. Taken together, these data indicate that although practical knowledge of pharmacogenetics among pediatricians in the U.S. and Japan is currently very low, their interest in clinical pharmacogenetics and related education is high, which will likely facilitate future implementation.

Complex patterns of inheritance, including synergistic heterozygosity, in inborn errors of metabolism: Implications for precision medicine driven diagnosis and treatment

Inborn errors of metabolism have traditionally been viewed as the quintessential single gene disorders; defects in one gene leads to loss of activity of one enzyme causing a metabolic imbalance and clinical disease. However, reality has never been quite that simple, and the classic "one gene-one enzyme" paradigm has been upended in many ways. Multiple gene defects can lead to the same biochemical phenotype, often with different clinical symptoms. Additionally, different mutations in the same gene can cause variable phenotypes, often most dramatic when a disease can be identified by pre-symptomatic screening. Moreover, response to therapy is not homogeneous across diseases and specific mutations. Perhaps the biggest deviation from traditional monogenic inheritance is in the setting of synergistic heterozygosity, a multigenic inheritance pattern in which mutations in multiple genes in a metabolic pathway lead to sufficient disruption of flux through the pathway, mimicking a monogenic disorder caused by homozygous defects in one gene in that pathway. In addition, widespread adoption of whole exome and whole genome sequencing in medical genetics has led to the realization that individual patients with apparently hybrid phenotypes can have mutations in more than one gene, leading to a mixed genetic disorder. Each of these situations point to a need for as much precision as possible in diagnosing metabolic disease, and it is likely to become increasingly critical to drive therapy. This article examines examples in traditional monogenic disorders that illustrates these points and define inborn errors of metabolism as complex genetic traits on the leading edge of precision medicine.

Pharmacogenomic Testing: Clinical Evidence and Implementation Challenges

Pharmacogenomics can enhance patient care by enabling treatments tailored to genetic make-up and lowering risk of serious adverse events. As of June 2019, there are 132 pharmacogenomic dosing guidelines for 99 drugs and pharmacogenomic information is included in 309 medication labels. Recently, the technology for identifying individual-specific genetic variants (genotyping) has become more accessible. Next generation sequencing (NGS) is a cost-effective option for genotyping patients at many pharmacogenomic loci simultaneously, and guidelines for implementation of these data are available from organizations such as the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) and the Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG). NGS and related technologies are increasing knowledge in the research sphere, yet rates of genomic literacy remain low, resulting in a widening gap in knowledge translation to the patient. Multidisciplinary teams—including physicians, nurses, genetic counsellors, and pharmacists—will need to combine their expertise to deliver optimal pharmacogenomically-informed care.

Precision medicine: a call for increased pharmacogenomic education

Precision medicine is an emerging model of care where providers consider patients' genetic profiles, lifestyles and environments to offer more precise therapy. The potential of precision medicine is boundless as interdisciplinary teams utilize genetic technologies to improve patient outcomes. The integration of precision medicine into healthcare faces many barriers, including a lack of standardization and reimbursement concerns. This article argues that increased pharmacogenetics education and system-wide implementation is necessary to overcome some of these challenges. Extensive expansion of pharmacogenomics education is a step toward producing knowledgeable clinicians who are poised to apply its methodology and champion for patient-centered care.

Perplexed by PGx? Exploring the impact of pharmacogenomic results on medical management, disclosures and patient behavior

Pharmacogenomic (PGx) tests represent significant advances in precision medicine. Our aim was to explore perceptions following the return of PGx results, medication management, and disclosure to providers. We surveyed clients who had PGx testing and conducted a chart review of PGx results. Respectively, 84% and 94% of participants found pre- and post-test genetic counseling helpful. There was a significant difference in disclosure, while 6% disclosed results to a pharmacist, 50% disclosed to a physician. Qualitative analysis identified three themes: 1) psychological response; 2) perceived utility; 3) experiences with disclosure. Our study supports the provision of genetic counseling for a non-disease related genetic test. Benefits of PGx testing can be optimized by the collaboration of physicians, pharmacists, genetic counselors and patients.

Implementing Clinical Pharmacogenomics in the Classroom: Student Pharmacist Impressions of an Educational Intervention Including Personal Genotyping

Pharmacogenomics provides a personalized approach to pharmacotherapy by using genetic information to guide drug dosing and selection. However, partly due to lack of education, pharmacogenomic testing has not been fully implemented in clinical practice. With pharmacotherapy training and patient accessibility, pharmacists are ideally suited to apply pharmacogenomics to patient care. Student pharmacists (n = 222) participated in an educational intervention that included voluntary personal genotyping using 23andMe. Of these, 31% of students completed both pre- and post-educational interventions to evaluate their attitudes and confidence towards the use of pharmacogenomics data in clinical decision making, and 55% of this paired subset obtained personal genotyping. McNemar’s test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to analyze responses. Following the educational intervention, students regardless of genotyping were more likely to recommend personal genotyping (36% post-educational intervention versus 19% pre-educational intervention, p = 0.0032), more confident in using pharmacogenomics in the management of drug therapy (51% post-educational intervention versus 29% pre-educational intervention, p = 0.0045), and more likely to believe that personalized genomics would have an important role in their future pharmacy career (90% post-educational intervention versus 51% pre-educational intervention, p = 0.0072) compared to before receiving the educational intervention. This educational intervention positively influenced students’ attitudes and confidence regarding pharmacogenomics in the clinical setting. Future studies will examine the use of next-generation sequencing assays that selectively examine pharmacogenes in the education of student pharmacists.

Personalized medicines - are pharmacists ready for the challenge?

The field of personalized medicine affords multiple opportunities to pharmacists, and pharmacists have specific knowledge, skills and abilities that make them uniquely suited to advance the use of personalized medicine as a clinical tool. The pharmacy profession as a whole, however, has been slow to embrace the concept of clinical pharmacogenetics and is now facing a critical juncture that can potentially redefine the professional identity of the pharmacist. Before practice transformation can occur, however, it is important for our profession to ask and fully explore the following question: Are pharmacists ready for the challenge of personalized medicine? When assessing the readiness of pharmacy for personalized medicine, one must consider factors that are specific to the individual pharmacist as well as systematic considerations that allow pharmacists to successfully integrate personalized medicine into their individual practice area. These include factors such as education and training, competency, an attitude of engagement and adequate support and guidance. Personnel, information technology and laboratory infrastructure are also critical elements that are required, and financially sustainable practice models must be developed. Successful advancement of clinical pharmacogenetics will also require the profession to clearly define their vision of what success looks like and where it wants to be at the end of the transformational journey. Without a clear destination, we will continue to move as individuals in different directions and fail to progress as a whole. While pharmacists might not be completely ready for the challenge of pharmacogenetics, they are most certainly up to facing the challenge. The time is right and the stage is set for pharmacy to embark on another transformative journey - a journey that will redefine the role of the pharmacist and will secure a place for pharmacy in the era of personalized medicine and beyond.

Knowledge, perceptions and confidence of physicians and pharmacists towards pharmacogenetics practice in Kuwait

BACKGROUND

Pharmacogenetics practice has been successfully implemented in many developed countries to enhance personalized medicine and improve clinical and economic outcomes. An understanding of healthcare providers' knowledge, perceptions, confidence towards pharmacogenetics, and their active enrollment with pharmacogenetic testing is essential for test acceptance and utilization. This study was designed to assess physicians' and pharmacists' knowledge, perceptions, and confidence towards pharmacogenetics, determine the preferred learning format for their future education in pharmacogenetics, and identify the barriers to its application in their practice settings.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a pretested self-administered questionnaire on a sample of 629 randomly selected physicians and pharmacists. Descriptive and comparative analyses were used in data analysis.

RESULTS

The response rate was 98.1%. Less than one-tenth of respondents were exposed to pharmacogenetics education or training (8.9%), applied pharmacogenetics testing in their practice (9.4%), or provided patient counselling on the results of the pharmacogenetic testing (9.1%), and over 90% of them were physicians. The overall respondents' mean (SD) total knowledge score percentage was low [45.0% (24)] and there was no significant difference between the physicians and pharmacists scores (p>0.05). Only 16.0% of participants indicated that they felt confident in applying pharmacogenetics in their practice settings. Despite these low levels of knowledge and self-confidence, 70.2% of participants expressed overall positive perceptions towards pharmacogenetics and its clinical implications. These positive overall perceptions were found to be significantly more common among pharmacists compared to physicians (p<0.05). The top two perceived barriers facing the implementation of pharmacogenetics in Kuwait were lack of education or training and clinical guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight important concerns and will aid in the assessment of current pharmacogenetics practice. Also, they will provide further insight in designing future targeted multifaceted interventions to promote the adoption and utilization of pharmacogenetics testing in Kuwait.

Integration of Germline Pharmacogenetics Into a Tumor Sequencing Program

PURPOSE

Evidence-based guidelines inform treatment decisions for patients for whom germline genetic information is available. Our real-time tumor sequencing program, which makes precision treatment decisions for patients with cancer, produces matched germline information, providing a unique opportunity to efficiently implement pharmacogenetics and benefit patients.

METHODS

The germline genetic database from the Michigan Oncology Sequencing (MI-Oncoseq) program was searched for 21 clinically actionable polymorphisms in five cancer-relevant genes: TPMT, DPYD, CYP2C19, CYP3A5, and UGT1A1. Residual germ line DNA was sent to an external Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-approved laboratory for confirmatory genotyping. The medical records of MI-Oncoseq patients with actionable phenotypes were searched for receipt of relevant drugs and to determine whether having genetic information at the time of treatment would have led to a treatment recommendation.

RESULTS

All nine variants in TPMT, DPYD, and CYP2C19 that were detected in MI-Oncoseq were confirmed by external genotyping. Genotype determinations could not be made for CYP3A5*3, UGT1A1*28, or UGT1A1*80. On the basis of retrospective assessment of 115 adult and pediatric patient records, 4.3% (n = 5) had a potentially clinically actionable phenotype for TPMT, DPYD, or CYP2C19 and received a relevant medication. After accounting for differences in adult and pediatric recommendations, three of these patients could have received a treatment recommendation at the time of prescribing.

CONCLUSION

Germline genotype determinations for TPMT, DPYD, and CYP2C19 can be used to make evidence-based treatment recommendations in MI-Oncoseq patients. Although the proportion of patients for whom recommendations can be made is small, this added value to MI-Oncoseq and patient care comes at no additional genotyping cost. Pharmacogenetic assessment should be integrated into tumor sequencing programs that genotype matched germline DNA; however, the complexity and additional cost of implementing pharmacogenetics remain challenging.

Research Directions in the Clinical Implementation of Pharmacogenomics: An Overview of US Programs and Projects

Response to a drug often differs widely among individual patients. This variability is frequently observed not only with respect to effective responses but also with adverse drug reactions. Matching patients to the drugs that are most likely to be effective and least likely to cause harm is the goal of effective therapeutics. Pharmacogenomics (PGx) holds the promise of precision medicine through elucidating the genetic determinants responsible for pharmacological outcomes and using them to guide drug selection and dosing. Here we survey the US landscape of research programs in PGx implementation, review current advances and clinical applications of PGx, summarize the obstacles that have hindered PGx implementation, and identify the critical knowledge gaps and possible studies needed to help to address them.

Implementation of a multidisciplinary pharmacogenomics clinic in a community health system

PURPOSE

The development and implementation of a multidisciplinary pharmacogenomics clinic within the framework of an established community-based medical genetics program are described.

SUMMARY

Pharmacogenomics is an important component of precision medicine that holds considerable promise for pharmacotherapy optimization. As part of the development of a health system-wide integrated pharmacogenomics program, in early 2015 Northshore University Health-System established a pharmacogenomics clinic run by a multidisciplinary team including a medical geneticist, a pharmacist, a nurse practitioner, and genetic counselors. The team identified five key program elements: (1) a billable-service provider, (2) a process for documentation of relevant medication and family histories, (3) personnel with the knowledge required to interpret pharmacogenomic results, (4) personnel to discuss risks, benefits, and limitations of pharmacogenomic testing, and (5) a mechanism for reporting results. The most important program component is expert interpretation of genetic test results to provide clinically useful information; pharmacists are well positioned to provide that expertise. At the Northshore University HealthSystem pharmacogenomics clinic, patient encounters typically entail two one-hour visits and follow a standardized workflow. At the first visit, pharmacogenomics-focused medication and family histories are obtained, risks and benefits of genetic testing are explained, and a test sample is collected; at the second visit, test results are provided along with evidence-based pharmacotherapy recommendations.

CONCLUSION

A multidisciplinary clinic providing genotyping and related services can facilitate the integration of pharmacogenomics into clinical care and meet the needs of early adopters of precision medicine.

Integrating pharmacogenetic testing into primary care

Introduction

Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing has greatly expanded due to enhanced understanding of the role of genes in drug response and advances in DNA-based testing technology development. As many primary care visits result in a prescription, the use of PGx testing may be particularly beneficial in this setting. However, integration of PGx testing may be limited as no uniform approach to delivery of tests has been established and providers are ill-prepared to integrate PGx testing into routine care.

Areas covered

In this paper, the readiness of primary care practitioners are reviewed as well as strategies to address these barriers based on published research and ongoing activities on education and implementation of PGx testing.

Expert Commentary

Widespread integration of PGx testing will warrant continued education and point-of-care decisional support. Primary care providers may also benefit from consultation services or team-based care with laboratory medicine specialists, pharmacists, and genetic counselors.

Institutional profile of pharmacogenetics within University of Michigan College of Pharmacy

The University of Michigan College of Pharmacy has made substantial investment in the area of pharmacogenomics to further bolster its activity in pharmacogenomics research, implementation and education. Four tenure-track faculty members have active research programs that focus primarily on the discovery of functional polymorphisms (HJ Zhu), and genetic associations with treatment outcomes in patients with cancer (DL Hertz), cardiovascular disease (JA Luzum) and psychiatric conditions (VL Ellingrod). Recent investments from the University and the College have accelerated the implementation of pharmacogenetics broadly across the institution and in targeted therapeutic areas. Students within the PharmD and other health science professions receive substantial instruction in pharmacogenomics, in preparation for careers in biomedical health in which they can contribute to the generation, dissemination and utilization of pharmacogenomics knowledge to improve patient care.

Preemptive Panel-Based Pharmacogenetic Testing: The Time is Now

While recent discoveries have paved the way for the use of genotype-guided prescribing in some clinical environments, significant debate persists among clinicians and researchers about the optimal approach to pharmacogenetic testing in clinical practice. One crucial factor in this debate surrounds the timing and methodology of genotyping, specifically whether genotyping should be performed reactively for targeted genes when a single drug is prescribed, or preemptively using a panel-based approach prior to drug prescribing. While early clinical models that employed a preemptive approach were largely developed in academic health centers through multidisciplinary efforts, increasing examples of pharmacogenetic testing are emerging in community-based and primary care practice environments. However, educational and practice-based resources for these clinicians remain largely nonexistent. As such, there is a need for the health care system to shift its focus from debating about preemptive genotyping to developing and disseminating needed resources to equip frontline clinicians for clinical implementation of pharmacogenetics. Providing tools and guidance to support these emerging models of care will be essential to support the thoughtful, evidence-based use of pharmacogenetic information in diverse clinical practice environments. Specifically, the creation of efficient and accurate point-of-care resources, practice-based tools, and clinical models is needed, along with identification and dissemination of sustainable avenues for pharmacogenetic test reimbursement.

The Routine Clinical use of Pharmacogenetic Tests: What it Will Require?

Pharmacogenetic testing aims to personalize drug therapy with a view to optimising drug efficacy and minimise toxicity. However, despite the potential benefits, pharmacogenetic testing is mostly confined to specialised medical areas, laboratories and centres. Widespread integration into routine clinical practice has been limited by a complex set of issues including regulatory and reimbursement frameworks, evidence of clinical utility and clinician perspectives, practices and education. Here we assess the current barriers to widespread clinical uptake and identify the key issue necessary to address to accelerate routine testing.

The role of hospital pharmacists in the adoption and use of pharmacogenomics and precision medicine

Aim: Our aim was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of US hospital pharmacists about the implementation of clinical pharmacogenomics, and examine liability risks of adopting pharmacogenomics by pharmacists. Methods: We surveyed hospital pharmacists. Linear regression models of predictor variables for pharmacist adoption and use of pharmacogenomics were analyzed. Results: The survey was administered to 660 hospital pharmacists (23% response rate; n = 149). The majority of respondents (72%) favor implementing pharmacogenomics into pharmacy practice. However, only 25% are confident in their abilities to interpret pharmacogenomic test results. Conclusion: Pharmacists lack confidence in their abilities to interpret and use pharmacogenomic information in clinical care. These results raise potential liability risks that are pertinent to pharmacists.

Educational strategies to enable expansion of pharmacogenomics-based care

PURPOSE

The current state of pharmacogenomics education for pharmacy students and practitioners is discussed, and resources and strategies to address persistent challenges in this area are reviewed.

SUMMARY

Consensus-based pharmacist competencies and guidelines have been published to guide pharmacogenomics knowledge attainment and application in clinical practice. Pharmacogenomics education is integrated into various pharmacy school courses and, increasingly, into Pharm.D. curricula in the form of required standalone courses. Continuing-education programs and a limited number of postgraduate training opportunities are available to practicing pharmacists. For colleges and schools of pharmacy, identifying the optimal structure and content of pharmacogenomics education remains a challenge; insufficient numbers of faculty members with pharmacogenomics expertise and the inadequate availability of practice settings for experiential education are other limiting factors. Strategies for overcoming those challenges include providing early exposure to pharmacogenomics through foundational courses and incorporating pharmacogenomics into practice-based therapeutics courses and introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences. For practitioner education, online resources, clinical decision support-based tools, and certificate programs can be used to supplement structured postgraduate training in pharmacogenomics. Recently published data indicate successful use of "shared curricula" and participatory education models involving opportunities for learners to undergo personal genomic testing.

CONCLUSION

The pharmacy profession has taken a leadership role in expanding student and practitioner education to meet the demand for increased pharmacist involvement in precision medicine initiatives. Effective approaches to teaching pharmacogenomics knowledge and driving its appropriate application in clinical practice are increasingly available.

Impact of a personal CYP2D6 testing workshop on physician assistant student attitudes toward pharmacogenetics

AIM

We assessed the impact of personal CYP2D6 testing on physician assistant student competency in, and attitudes toward, pharmacogenetics (PGx).

MATERIALS & METHODS

Buccal samples were genotyped for CYP2D6 polymorphisms. Results were discussed during a 3-h PGx workshop. PGx knowledge was assessed by pre- and post-tests. Focus groups assessed the impact of the workshop on attitudes toward the clinical utility of PGx.

RESULTS

Both student knowledge of PGx, and its perceived clinical utility, increased immediately following the workshop. However, exposure to PGx on clinical rotations following the workshop seemed to influence student attitudes toward PGx utility.

CONCLUSION

Personal CYP2D6 testing improves both knowledge and comfort with PGx. Continued exposure to PGx concepts is important for transfer of learning.