Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge, Confidence and Perceptions of Pharmacogenomics in Primary Care and Pain Management

Abstract

Aim: To assess knowledge, confidence and perceptions of healthcare professionals specializing in primary care and pain management at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, related to clinical pharmacogenomics (PGx). Methods: A 25-question online survey was distributed to 328 Brigham and Women’s Hospital clinicians for analysis. Results: Thirty-four clinicians completed the survey. Respondents had minimal experience with PGx and limited awareness of PGx resources. Although respondents expressed belief that PGx has utility to improve medication-related patient outcomes, many lack confidence to apply PGx results to their practice. For clinical drug–gene questions relevant to primary care and/or pain management, respondents scored poorly. Conclusion: More clinician education is needed for appropriate utilization of PGx in clinical practice as it pertains to primary care and pain management.

Keywords::

• pain management
• personalized patient care plan
• pharmacogenomics
• primary care
• survey

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/pgs-2023-0028

Author contributions

All authors were involved in development of survey questions and study design as well as manuscript drafting and approval.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank all participants for their involvement in this study.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Funding for this study was provided by the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences School of Pharmacy Honors Program. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Information pertaining to writing assistance: No writing support used.

Ethical conduct of research

Institutional review boards at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Brigham and Women’s Hospital approved this study to be conducted. All participants provided informed consent before data collection.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences School of Pharmacy Honors Program. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those Information pertaining to writing assistance: No writing support used.