Abstract
PurposeDue to the diversity within Europe, the implementation of pharmacogenomic testing in clinical practice faces specific challenges. In the context of the European pharmacogenomics implementation project “Ubiquitous Pharmacogenomics” (U-PGx; funded by the European Commission), we studied the current educational background.MethodsWe developed a questionnaire including 29 questions. It was spread out to healthcare professionals working at the future implementation sites (in Austria, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and Great Britain) of the U-PGx project in preparation of an educational programme. Aim of the survey was to analyse the current educational situation at the implementation sites.ResultsIn total, 70 healthcare professionals participated in the survey. Of participants, 84.3% found pharmacogenomics relevant to their current practice, but experience was still rare. More than two-thirds (65.7%) did not order nor recommend a pharmacogenomic test in the past year. This was mainly attributed to not having enough knowledge on pharmacogenomics (40.0%). Needs were identified in application of pharmacogenomics (identifying drugs 41.4%, interpreting test results 37.2%) as well as in underlining mechanisms (better knowledge on drug metabolism 67.1%, better knowledge on basic principles of pharmacogenomics 60.0%).ConclusionsThis study analysed the specific attitudes, experience and education on pharmacogenomics of future users. There was a general positive attitude and interest towards pharmacogenomic testing. However, the grade of own experience, and knowledge about application and interpretation of pharmacogenomics caused uncertainty. Thus, education and training programmes may be helpful for implementation of pharmacogenomics at a homogenous level within Europe.
Highlights
In the context of the study, Ubiquitous Pharmacogenomics, pharmacogenomic testing was understood mainly for assessment of the variability of genes affecting drug disposition, metabolism and drug transport leading to individual responses to drugs [1]
Drug dosing was based on multiple factors with pharmacogenomics mentioned as one of the factors taken into account in 18.6% (Fig. 1)
The application and interpretation of PGx, when and whom to test, and how to use the results and give therapy recommendations or therapy adjustments, caused uncertainty and needs further improvement. Those results are comparable to results of questionnaires with pharmacists and physicians on pharmacogenomics [8, 9], even though our cohort was slightly more used to application of pharmacogenomics
Summary
In the context of the study, Ubiquitous Pharmacogenomics, pharmacogenomic testing was understood mainly for assessment of the variability of genes affecting drug disposition, metabolism and drug transport leading to individual responses to drugs [1]. By genotyping, testing for established gene variants, it is assumed to improve drug efficacy and safety [2, 3]. Pre-emptive, prospective, genotyping to make individualised drug therapy feasible is seen to contribute to personalised medicine [4]. Pre-emptive genotyping is thereby thought to be used to decide on the right drug for the right patient as well as the right dose [5]. Eur J Clin Pharmacol (2017) 73:1247–1252 to medication by more accurate dosing, avoiding adverse drug reactions and enhancing drug safety and reducing health care costs [6]. In the field of PGx, it is challenging to collect sufficient sample sizes for analysing effectiveness in clinical trials owing the rarity of PGx variants and population heterogeneity [2, 7]
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