Ethiopian health care professionals’ knowledge, attitude, and interests toward pharmacogenomics

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics of study participants at the University of Gondar, April 1–May 30, 2016 (N=292)

Variables		Frequency	Percentage
Sex	Male	174	59.6
	Female	118	40.4
Age (mean±SD)		27.00±4.85
Monthly income (ETB)	2100–5077	123	42.1
	5078–7286	56	19.2
	7287–14000	29	9.9
	>14000	2	0.7
Primary job roles	Nurse	150	51.3
	Physician	72	24.7
	Pharmacist	70	24
Years since last graduation	0–3	124	42.5
	4–6	84	28.8
	7–10	77	26.4
	>10	7	2.4
Highest qualification	Medical doctor	16	5.5
	BSc	89	30.5
	BPharm	32	11.0
	MSc	21	7.2
	Intern	46	15.8
	Graduating class pharmacy	32	11.0
	Graduating class nurse	43	14.7
	Residency	11	3.8
	PhD student	2	0.7

Note: 1 US$=23 ETB.

Abbreviations: ETB, Ethiopian Birr.

Table 2 General pharmacogenomic knowledge of health professionals at the University of Gondar referral hospital, April 1–May 30, 2016 (N=292)

S. No.	Statement	Response	Pharmacist (n=70)	Nurse (n=150)	Physician (n=72)	Total (N=292)
1	Slight differences in a person’s genome can have a major impact on how the person responds to medications	Correct	63 (90%)	98 (65.33%)	53 (73.61%)	214 (73.3%)
		Incorrect	7 (10%)	52 (34.67%)	19 (26.39%)	78 (26.7%)
2	Genetic determinants of drug response change over a person’s lifetime	Correct	32 (45.71%)	77 (51.33%)	16 (22.22%)	125 (42.8%)
		Incorrect	38 (54.29%)	73 (48.67%)	56 (77.78%)	167 (57.2%)
3	Genetic variations can account for as much as 95% of the variability in a drug disposition and effects	Correct	40 (57.14%)	49 (32.67%)	43 (59.72%)	132 (45.2%)
		Incorrect	30 (42.86%)	101 (67.33%)	29 (40.27%)	160 (54.8%)
4	The package insert for warfarin includes a warning about altered metabolism in individuals who have specific genetic variants	Correct	38 (54.29%)	53 (35.33%)	38 (52.78%)	129 (44.2%)
		Incorrect	32 (45.71)	97 (64.67%)	34 (47.22%)	163 (55.8%)
5	Pharmacogenetics diagnostic testing is currently available for most medications	Correct	14 (20%)	49 (32.67%)	21 (29.17%)	84 (28.8%)
		Incorrect	56 (80%)	101 (67.33%)	51 (70.83%)	208 (71.2%)

Table 3 Self-assessed knowledge about pharmacogenetic testing at the University of Gondar referral hospital, April 1–May 30, 2016

S. No.	Statement	Response	Pharmacist (n=70)	Nurse (n=150)	Physician (n=72)	Total (N=292)
1	I can easily know the available pharmacogenomics tests in Ethiopia	Yes	12 (17.14%)	33 (22.00%)	14 (19.44%)	59 (20.2%)
		No	45 (64.28%)	83 (55.33%)	52 (72.22%)	180 (61.6%)
		Not sure	13 (18.57%)	34 (22.67%)	6 (8.33%)	53 (18.2%)
2	I believe I am competent to discuss pharmacogenetic information with other health care providers (physicians, nurses, pharmacists)	Agree	37 (52.86%)	65 (43.3%)	24 (33.3%)	126 (43.1%)
		Neutral	3 (4.29%)	21 (14.00%)	4 (5.56%)	28 (9.6%)
		Disagree	30 (42.86%)	64 (42.7%)	44 (61.1%)	138 (47.3%)
3	I can accurately apply the results of a pharmacogenomics test to drug therapy selection, dosing, or monitoring	Agree	25 (35.7)	56 (37.3%)	22 (30.6%)	103 (35.3%)
		Neutral	9 (12.86%)	25 (16.67%)	5 (6.94%)	39 (13.3%)
		Disagree	36 (51.4%)	69 (46%)	45 (62.5%)	150 (51.4%)
4	I can identify medications for which pharmacogenetic testing is recommended	Agree	32 (45.7%)	62 (41.3%)	21 (29.2%)	115 (39.4%)
		Neutral	10 (41.29%)	23 (15.33%)	6 (8.33%)	39 (13.3%)
		Disagree	28 (40%)	65 (43.3%)	45 (62.5%	138 (47.3%)

Table 4 Attitude of health professionals toward pharmacogenomic testing at the University of Gondar referral hospital, April 1–May 30, 2016

S. No.	Statement	Response	Pharmacist (n=70)	Nurse (n=150)	Physician (n=72)	Total (N=292)
1	Pharmacogenetic testing will help to decrease the number of adverse events patients experience due to their drug therapy	Agree	63 (90%)	112 (74.7%)	63 (87.5%)	238 (81.5%)
		Neutral	2 (2.9%)	15 (10.00%)	5 (6.9%)	22 (7.5)
		Disagree	5 (7.1%)	23 (15.3%)	4 (5.6%)	32 (11%)
2	Pharmacogenetics testing will help to optimize drug dosing	Agree	61 (87.1%)	118 (78.7%)	64 (88.9%)	243 (83.2%)
		Neutral	3 (4.3%)	14 (9.3%)	4 (5.6%)	21 (7.2%)
		Disagree	6 (8.6%)	18 (12%)	4 (5.6%)	28 (9.6%)
3	Pharmacogenetic testing will help to improve drug efficacy	Agree	63 (90%)	118 (78.7%)	61 (84.7%)	242 (82.9%)
		Neutral	3 (4.29%)	14 (9.33%)	4 (5.6%)	21 (7.2%)
		Disagree	4 (5.7%)	18 (12%)	7 (9.7%)	29 (9.9%)
4	Pharmacogenetics as a field is relevant to my practice setting	Agree	47 (67.1%)	72 (48%)	34 (47.2%)	153 (52.4%)
		Neutral	6 (8.6%)	30 (20.00%)	13 (18.1%)	49 (16.8%)
		Disagree	17 (24.3%)	48 (32%)	25 (34.7%)	90 (30.8%)
5	Part of a health professional role should include counseling patients regarding pharmacogenetic information	Agree	51 (72.9%)	88 (58.7%)	35 (48.6%)	174 (59.6%)
		Neutral	5 (7.1%)	25 (16.67%)	9 (12.5%)	39 (13.4%)
		Disagree	14 (20%)	37 (24.7%)	28 (38.9%)	79 (27%)

Figure 1 Percentage of responses of health professionals regarding future expectations about pharmacogenomic testing.