Proposal for a pharmacogenetics certificate program for pharmacists

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.

Precision Pharmacotherapy: Integrating Pharmacogenomics into Clinical Pharmacy Practice

Precision pharmacotherapy encompasses the use of therapeutic drug monitoring; evaluation of liver and renal function, genomics, and environmental and lifestyle exposures; and analysis of other unique patient or disease characteristics to guide drug selection and dosing. This paper articulates real-world clinical applications of precision pharmacotherapy, focusing exclusively on the emerging field of clinical pharmacogenomics. This field is evolving rapidly, and clinical pharmacists now play an invaluable role in the clinical implementation, education, and research applications of pharmacogenomics. This paper provides an overview of the evolution of pharmacogenomics in clinical pharmacy practice, together with recommendations on how the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) can support the advancement of clinical pharmacogenomics implementation, education, and research. Commonalities among successful clinical pharmacogenomics implementation and education programs are identified, with recommendations for how ACCP can leverage and advance these common themes. Opportunities are also provided to support the research needed to move the practice and application of pharmacogenomics forward.

Community pharmacists' educational needs for implementing clinical pharmacogenomic services

OBJECTIVES

Pharmacist leadership and knowledge of pharmacogenomics is critical to the acceleration and enhancement of clinical pharmacogenomic services. This study aims for a qualitative description of community pharmacists' pharmacogenomic educational needs when implementing clinical pharmacogenomic services at community pharmacies.

METHODS

Pharmacists practicing at Rite Aid Pharmacy locations in the Greater Pittsburgh Area were recruited to participate in this qualitative analysis. Pharmacists from pharmacy locations offering pharmacogenomic testing and robust patient care services were eligible to participate in a semistructured, audio-recorded interview. The semistructured interview covered 4 domains crafted by the investigative team: (1) previous knowledge of pharmacogenomics; (2) implementation resources; (3) workflow adaptation; and (4) learning preferences. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and independently coded by 2 researchers. A thematic analysis by the investigative team followed. Supporting quotes were selected to illustrate each theme.

RESULTS

Eleven pharmacists from 9 unique pharmacy locations participated in this study. The average length of practice as a community pharmacist was 12 years (range, 1.5-31 years). Pharmacist's pharmacogenomic educational needs were categorized into 5 key themes: (1) enriched pharmacogenomic education and training; (2) active learning to build confidence in using pharmacogenomic data in practice; (3) robust and reputable clinical resources to effectively implement pharmacogenomic services; (4) team-based approach throughout implementation; (5) readily accessible network of pharmacogenomic experts.

CONCLUSION

This study describes the educational needs and preferences of community pharmacists for the successful provision of clinical pharmacogenomic services in community pharmacies. Pharmacists recognized their needs for enriched knowledge and instruction, practice applying pharmacogenomic principles with team-based approaches, robust clinical resources, and access to pharmacogenomic experts. This deeper understanding of pharmacist needs for pharmacogenomic education could help to accelerate and enhance the clinical implementation of pharmacogenomic services led by community pharmacists.

The challenges of implementing pharmacogenomic testing in the clinic

INTRODUCTION

Pharmacogenomic testing has the potential to greatly benefit patients by enabling personalization of medication management, ensuring better efficacy and decreasing the risk of side effects. However, to fully realize the potential of pharmacogenomic testing, there are several important issues that must be addressed. Areas covered: In this expert review we discuss current challenges impacting the implementation of pharmacogenomic testing in the clinical practice. We emphasize issues related to testing methods, reporting of the results, test selection, clinical interpretation of the results, cost-effectiveness, and the long-term use of pharmacogenomic results in clinical practice. We identify opportunities and future directions to facilitate clinical implementation. Expert commentary: Several key elements are necessary to optimally integrate pharmacogenomic testing into clinical practice. Collaborative efforts among laboratories are needed to improve standardization of testing and reporting of the results. Clinicians need educational opportunities to improve understanding of which test to order and how to interpret the results. The electronic health records and other clinical systems need to improve their storage of the pharmacogenomics test results and interoperability to facilitate the use of clinically actionable results to improve patient care.