Practice of Pharmacogenomic Services by Physicians in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to illustrate the practice of pharmacogenomic services by the physicians in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey conducted to evaluate the practice of pharmacogenomic services by physicians in Saudi Arabia. We used a self-reported electronic survey and distributed it to physicians from internship to consultant, physician specialties in Saudi Arabia. The survey collected demographic information of the physicians and implemented pharmacogenomics in medical care, frequently of the pharmacogenomics items reported in medical care, medications executed the pharmacogenomics. The 5-point Likert response scale system with closed-ended questions to obtain responses. The data were analyzed using the Survey Monkey system. The Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) and Jeffery’s Amazing Statistics Program (JASP), and Microsoft excel sheet version 16 were used to analyze the data.Results: A total of 247 physicians responded to the survey. Of them, 156 (64.73%) were female and 84 (35.27%) were male, 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’s 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 average score of items “Physician’s practice of pharmacogenomic services” was 2.99 with high score obtained for the elements pharmacogenomic services in the pharmacy (3.16) and pharmacogenomics services competency (3.08). Most of the pharmacogenomics tests requested or observed with the following medications: antiplatelet medications (125 (50.61%)), followed by antidepressants (113 (46.31%)), and antipsychotics 101 (40.06%). The scores of single-test reliability analysis for McDonald’s ω was 0.843, Cronbach’s was 0.809, Gutmann’s λ2 was 0.845, and Gutmann’s λ6 was 0.848.Conclusion: The practice of pharmacogenomic services by physicians was insufficient in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, we highly recommend the implementation of the pharmacogenomics practice in medical care. Pharmacogenomics services can help to prevent drug-related side effects and improve the safety and efficacy of medication in Saudi Arabia.