Knowledge, attitude, perception, and self-reported confidence of community pharmacists towards pharmacogenomics services.

Abstract

Background: Pharmacogenomics is used to optimise patient drug therapy. The role of community pharmacists in the implementation of pharmacogenomics services is emerging. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitude, perception, and self-reported confidence of community pharmacists towards pharmacogenomics services.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among community pharmacists in Penang, Malaysia, using a self-administered, validated and pre-tested questionnaire. Data were collected from March 2022 to April 2022, and analysed using both descriptive and inferential analyses.

Results: One hundred and ten questionnaires were included in this study (response rate 65.5%). Only 14.5% had previous pharmacogenomics training, but 56.4% indicated interest to attend future pharmacogenomics training. Overall, respondents have low knowledge of pharmacogenomics, with higher knowledge score observed among those with previous pharmacogenomics training (median score: 10.5 [7-15] vs 9.0 [1-16], p = 0.018) and those with interest in future training (10.0 [4-16] vs 9.0 [1-16], p = 0.001). Median perception score was 32 out 45, indicating a good perception towards pharmacogenomics. Median self-reported confidence score was 23 out of 40, corresponding to a low self-reported confidence. Self-reported confidence was higher among those with previous pharmacogenomics training (28.0 [17-33] vs 22.0 [0-40], p = 0.021) and those with interest in attending future pharmacogenomics training (24.0 [0-40] vs 19.0 [0-39], p = 0.010). Barriers to implementation of pharmacogenomics are lack of knowledge (84.5%), lack of guidelines (83.6%), and lack of reimbursement (75.4%).

Conclusion: Community pharmacists have a low knowledge, and a low self-reported confidence towards pharmacogenomics services. Previous pharmacogenomics training and interest in attending pharmacogenomics training was associated with higher knowledge, attitude, perception, and self-reported confidence scores. Training of community pharmacists, development of local pharmacogenomics guidelines and design of a workable reimbursement plan for pharmacogenomics services are recommended.