Health care professionals' perceptions of the role of pharmacogenomic data.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the perceptions of health care professionals in examining the uses of pharmacogenomic data.
METHODS: A mailed questionnaire elicited respondent perceptions of how the use of pharmacogenomic information would impact the provision of health-related services (7-point scale: 7=strongly increase to 1=strongly decrease). Respondents were also asked to describe their level of agreement to statements related to how pharmacogenomic information should be used (7-point scale: 7=strongly agree to 1=strongly disagree). One-sample t tests were used to investigate significant differences from the midpoint value of each scale. Survey participants were attendees of a policy conference entitled.Pharmacogenomics: Implications for Patients, Providers, and Payers. sponsored by the university college of pharmacy.
RESULTS: Respondents believed the use of pharmacogenomic information would affect several areas of health care, including the cost of insurance premiums (P<0.001), the use of confidential medical information (P=0.024), patient access to therapy (P=0.005), and the impact of physician/patient preferences in selecting treatment choices (P<0.001). Furthermore, respondents felt it should be used to help treat patients (P<0.001), help patients/physicians make therapy choices (P<0.001), create treatment guidelines (P<0.001), conduct research (P<0.001), justify refusals of therapy (P=0.014), and budget for future expenditures (P<0.001). Respondents also believed the information should not be used for setting copay amounts (P=0.002), determining insurance premiums (P<0.001), or in the negotiation of insurance contracts (P<0.001).
CONCLUSION: The respondents to this survey appeared optimistic about the use of pharmacogenomic information, and their responses provided a proactive framework to discuss the potential use and misuse of this technology.