Pharmacogenetics: a perspective and preparedness of Pharm-D and medical students in Jordan

Knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward pharmacogenomics among pharmacists and pharmacy students: A systematic review

Background and Aims

Pharmacists have been recognized as one of the most qualified healthcare professionals in the clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics, yet its widespread implementation in clinical pharmacy practice has remained limited. The review aims to systematically investigate knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward pharmacogenomics among pharmacists and pharmacy students to inform the future delivery of pharmacogenomics education programs.

Methods

PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and the International Pharmaceutical Abstracts were searched up to May 17, 2022. Studies were selected if they included data on pharmacists' or pharmacy students' knowledge, perception, or attitude about pharmacogenomics and were published in a peer-reviewed, English-language journal with full-text availability. Any published study not deemed original research was excluded. All included studies were critically appraised using the Center for Evidence-Based Management's critical appraisal tools. The data were descriptively analyzed and presented based on pharmacists' and pharmacy students' knowledge/awareness, perception/attitudes toward pharmacogenomic (PGx), confidence in using or interpreting PGx testing results, and their desire to get further PGx education or their most preferred method of further education.

Results

A combined total of 12,430 pharmacists and pharmacy students from 26 countries are represented in the 52 included studies. Despite overwhelmingly positive attitudes and perceptions toward pharmacogenomics among pharmacists and pharmacy students, an overall lack of adequate knowledge and confidence was found. The review also found a strong desire for further pharmacogenomics education among pharmacists and pharmacy students.

Conclusion

Pharmacists and pharmacy students have positive perceptions and attitudes toward pharmacogenomics, which is hindered by a lack of knowledge and confidence. However, inadequate control for confounders, limited representativeness of the studied population or region, and small sample sizes diminish the generalizability of the review results. Knowledge and confidence could be improved through enhanced delivery of pharmacogenomic courses within the pharmacy curriculum and continuing education programs.

Knowledge and attitudes of medical and pharmacy students about pharmacogenomics: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is rapidly growing branch of molecular genetics with high potentials to influence therapeutics. This review evaluates knowledge and attitudes of medical and pharmacy students about PGx. A literature search was conducted in electronic databases and studies were selected by following precise eligibility criteria. After quality assessment, studies were reviewed systematically, and meta-analyses of proportions were performed to estimate response rates of students. Fifteen studies (5509 students; 69% [95% confidence interval (CI): 60%, 77%] females) were included. Among students, 28% [95%CI: 12, 46] had adequate PGx knowledge; 65% [95%CI: 55, 75] were willing to have PGx test for their own risk assessment; 78% [95%CI: 71, 84] had intention to incorporate PGx in future practice; and 32% [95%CI: 21, 43] were satisfied with current PGx component of curriculum. Age, advanced year of educational program, and more time spent in PGx education were positively associated with PGx knowledge and positive attitudes.

Pharmacy Student Perceptions of a Virtual Pharmacogenomics Activity

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) utilizes a patient’s genome to guide drug treatment and dosing. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) included PGx as a critical content area. Pharmacists are increasingly involved in providing this service, which necessitates training. Second-year pharmacy students at Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy have didactic training in the principles of PGx and managing drug therapy using PGx data. A clinical skills lab activity was developed to reinforce these principles and allow students to navigate resources to develop and communicate recommendations for drug therapy. The activity was initially planned as synchronous, but transitioned to asynchronous when students began remote learning in the spring of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigators sought students’ perceptions of the PGx lab activity and the delivery of its content via a virtual format. This study gathered data from an anonymous, voluntary student survey through Samford University’s course management system, Canvas, in the spring of 2020 soon after completion of the virtual PGx learning activity. The investigators’ goal is to obtain the information and insights obtained from the students who participated in the PGx lab activity to provide guidance for the improvement of their PGx lab activity and for other schools of pharmacy to deliver a PGx lab activities using nontraditional teaching methodologies.