Physician’s Knowledge of Pharmacogenomics Services in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to assess physician’s knowledge of pharmacogenomics services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey conducted to assess the knowledge of physicians about pharmacogenomics services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is a self-reported electronic survey of dentists. We included physicians from interns to consultants to specialists employed in Saudi Arabia. The survey collected demographic information of the responders and their knowledge of selected pharmacogenomics elements employed in medical care. The resources of pharmacogenomics in medical care. We used 5-point Likert response scale system with close-ended questions to obtain responses. The data were captured through the Survey Monkey system and analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS), Jeffery’s Amazing Statistics Program (JASP), and Microsoft Excel (version 16) software.Results: A total of 247 physicians responded to the questionnaire. Of them, 156 (65.00%) were female and 85 (35.00%) were male responders, with statistically significant differences between them (p<0.01). Most of the responders were in the age group of 24–35 years (162 (65.85%)), with statistically significant differences between all age groups (p<0.01). Most of the physicians were residents (61 (24.70%)), followed by interns (56 (22.67%)) and specialists (55 (22.27%)). The total average score of physician’s knowledge of pharmacogenomics was 3.06, with high scores obtained for the element’s knowledge of the concept of pharmacogenomics (3.42), the medications required the pharmacogenomics testing (3.20), and indications of pharmacogenomics testing (3.14). The pharmacogenomics international guidelines were the most used resource for the medication safety by physicians (97 (39.92%)) and colleagues/other physicians (65 (26.75%)).Conclusion: In this study, knowledge of physicians about pharmacogenomics services was found to be inadequate. Training and education on pharmacogenomics is highly recommended during the undergraduate and postgraduate courses for the best utilization and practice implementations pharmacogenomics services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.