Community pharmacists' attitudes towards pharmacogenetic testing

Purpose: To examine community pharmacists’ attitudes towards pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing including their views of the clinical utility of PGx and the ethical, social, legal, and practical implications of PGx testing.

Methods: Web-based survey administered to 5600 licensed community pharmacists in the states of OH and PA.

Results: Of 580 respondents, 52% were male, 68% >40 year old, 78% had a BS in Pharmacy degree, and 58% worked in a chain drug store.  Those with the PharmD degree were fewer years from graduation than those with a BS in pharmacy (8±7 vs 27±11 years, p<0.001). Of 5 knowledge score items, the average correct was 2.8 ± 0.5.  PharmD trained pharmacists had a significantly higher knowledge score than those with a BS in pharmacy (3.2 ± 0.9 vs. 2.6 ± 0.6, p<0.0001).  All pharmacists had positive attitudes towards PGx and most (87%) felt it would decrease the number of adverse events and optimize drug dosing.  More than half (57%) of pharmacists felt it was their role to counsel patients regarding PGx information, but felt they needed more training.  Many (65%) were concerned that PGx test results may be used to deny health insurance.

Conclusion: Pharmacists with PharmD training had greater knowledge regarding PGx testing.  Since the PharmD trained pharmacists were fewer years from graduation, this difference in knowledge most likely reflects recent changes to the pharmacy curriculum that includes education about PGx.  Regardless of type of education, all pharmacists had positive attitudes towards PGx and seemed willing to counsel patients regarding PGx test results, but needed more training in this area.  There is still a concern among pharmacists that PGx test results may be used to deny health insurance and thus there is a need to educate pharmacists about legal protections prohibiting genetic discrimination.