Daiki Tsuji1, Yoshiro Saito2, Taisei Mushiroda3, Masatomo Miura4, Daiki Hira5, Tomohiro Terada6. 1. Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Genetics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, Japan. 2. Division of Medicinal Safety Science, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa, Japan. 3. Laboratory for Pharmacogenomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, Japan. 4. Department of Pharmacy, Akita University Hospital, Akita City, Akita, Japan. 5. Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu City, Shiga, Japan. 6. Department of Pharmacy, Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital, Otsu City, Shiga, Japan.
Abstract
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing can be effective for supporting precision medicine. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice behaviours of pharmacists in relation to such testing through a survey. We also aimed to identify potential obstacles to implementation of PGx testing by pharmacists and the characteristics of hospital pharmacists involved. METHODS: We performed a web-based survey regarding PGx in Japan. The survey contained a questionnaire related to PGx, which consisted of 30 items and was made accessible via the official Japanese Society of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences (JSPHCS) website. The characteristics of hospital pharmacists associated with involvement in PGx testing were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: One thousand three-hundred and thirteen pharmacists responded to the survey. The results revealed that the majority of respondents recognized the role that germline PGx testing can play in determining individual drug responses and that pharmacists have embraced the potential of PGx testing to improve patient care. However, only 26% of pharmacists were involved in PGx testing. We also found that most respondents (81.0%) believed that the lack of insurance coverage for PGx testing was a major barrier to its clinical implementation. Hospital pharmacists involved in PGx testing included certified pharmacists in JSPHCS and pharmacists who had studied PGx in university; however, only 12.4% of pharmacists had received specific PGx-related education. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The findings of this survey highlight the necessity to increase the number of PGx tests covered by insurance, and the importance of effective education to inform and facilitate clinical implementation of PGx testing.
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing can be effective for supporting precision medicine. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice behaviours of pharmacists in relation to such testing through a survey. We also aimed to identify potential obstacles to implementation of PGx testing by pharmacists and the characteristics of hospital pharmacists involved. METHODS: We performed a web-based survey regarding PGx in Japan. The survey contained a questionnaire related to PGx, which consisted of 30 items and was made accessible via the official Japanese Society of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences (JSPHCS) website. The characteristics of hospital pharmacists associated with involvement in PGx testing were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: One thousand three-hundred and thirteen pharmacists responded to the survey. The results revealed that the majority of respondents recognized the role that germline PGx testing can play in determining individual drug responses and that pharmacists have embraced the potential of PGx testing to improve patient care. However, only 26% of pharmacists were involved in PGx testing. We also found that most respondents (81.0%) believed that the lack of insurance coverage for PGx testing was a major barrier to its clinical implementation. Hospital pharmacists involved in PGx testing included certified pharmacists in JSPHCS and pharmacists who had studied PGx in university; however, only 12.4% of pharmacists had received specific PGx-related education. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The findings of this survey highlight the necessity to increase the number of PGx tests covered by insurance, and the importance of effective education to inform and facilitate clinical implementation of PGx testing.