Development and Evaluation of a Pharmacogenomics Educational Program for Pharmacists

• Published in: American journal of pharmaceutical education Vol. 77; no. 1; p. 1
• Main Authors: mea, Christine M, Nicholson, Wayne T, McCullough, Kristen B, Berg, Kevin D, Berg, Melody L, Cunningham, Julie L, Merten, Julianna A, Ou, Narith N, Stollings, Joanna L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria Elsevier Limited 01-01-2013
• Subjects: Accreditation; Behavioral Objectives; Bias; Drug dosages; Educational Needs; Educational Objectives; Labeling; Pharmacists; Polls & surveys; Public speaking; Studies
• ISSN: 0002-9459; 1553-6467

To evaluate hospital and outpatient pharmacists' pharmacogenomics knowledge before and 2 months after participating in a targeted, case-based pharmacogenomics continuing education program. As part of a continuing education program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), pharmacists were provided with a fundamental pharmacogenomics education program. An 11-question, multiple-choice, electronic survey instrument was distributed to 272 eligible pharmacists at a single campus of a large, academic healthcare system. Pharmacists improved their pharmacogenomics test scores by 0.7 questions (pretest average 46%; posttest average 53%, p=0.0003). Although pharmacists demonstrated improvement, overall retention of educational goals and objectives was marginal. These results suggest that the complex topic of pharmacogenomics requires a large educational effort in order to increase pharmacists' knowledge and comfort level with this emerging therapeutic opportunity. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]