Knowledge and understanding of pharmacogenomic testing among patients and health care professionals: A scoping review

Abstract

Objective: To support the introduction of pharmacogenomic tests in current practice, this study identifies the factors associated with a better understanding of the information related to genetic, genomic and/or pharmacogenomic tests by patients and health care professionals.Methods: Following a scoping review methodology, a search for literature was conducted with keywords related to health literacy and knowledge translation in the context of pharmacogenomic tests. Since only 6 articles were identified, the context of genetic or genomic testing were added to the inclusion criteria, leading to 24 articles. Results:Fourteen of the studies analyzed focused on genetic predictive, diagnostic or carrier tests, or concerned genetics in general, while ten addressed or included the use of pharmacogenomic tests. Demographic, individual, experiential and contextual factors were associated with a better understanding of the information related to genetic, genomic and/or pharmacogenomic tests among the targeted populations.Research Implications: Our review shows that there is currently little empirical research available to identify the factors to consider in order to develop educational tools and resources specific to pharmacogenomics. Conclusion:Expanding our review to include genetic and genomic testing factors can serve as a starting point for the evidence to be validated in future empirical research.

Public Attitudes toward Pharmacogenomic Testing and Establishing a Statewide Pharmacogenomics Database in the State of Minnesota

“…Assessing clients’ health literacy has been recognized as an important component of genetic counseling for disease risks [ 49 ]. In PGx, a handful of studies suggest that individuals with higher health literacy are more likely to have a better understanding of the test results [ 50 ]. Yet, the role of health literacy in clinical PGx service and research has only been sparsely explored.…”

The Role of Pharmacists in Personalised Medicine: A Review of Integrating Pharmacogenomics Into Clinical Practice

“…With their communication skills and medication expertise, pharmacists are well-positioned to bridge the gap between the intricacies of genomics and patients' understanding. Patient counselling involves explaining the implications of genetic test results and fostering a dialogue on the potential benefits and limitations of pharmacogenomic testing (Brown et al, 2020;Veilleux & Bouffard, 2019;Veilleux, Bouffard, & Bourque Bouliane, 2020). Empowering patients to engage in decisions related to their medication management actively promotes shared decisionmaking, a cornerstone of personalised medicine.…”

The New Precision Stewards?

“…As genetic information became more available, attention to patients’ informational needs and health skills in relation to genetic information developed into the literature on genetic literacy. Genetic literacy scales have been developed and used to explore both conceptual and informational skills in both providers and patients [ 36 , 37 , 38 ]. Key findings include the need to improve genetic literacy to support successful clinical translation.…”