KNOWLEGDE AND ATTITUDE (or) PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS PHARMACOGENOMICS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Abstract : BACKGROUND - Pharmacogenomics,
the science that deals with the
study of role of inheritance in the variation
in drug response, serves to be a valuable
tool in personalising therapy, thereby enhancing
therapeutic efficacy and reducing
adverse events. Knowledge and awareness
is required among the medical fraternity
for its appropriate application.
OBJECTIVES - To assess the knowledge
and attitude (or) perceptions towards
pharmacogenomics among medical students
and health care providers of Madras
Medical College and Rajiv Gandhi Government
General Hospital, Chennai-
3.METHODS - A survey was conducted
using a semi-structured questionnaire
among under-graduate and post-graduate
medical students, interns and physicians
comprising of 50 participants in each category.
Their knowledge were rated based
on a scale and the attitudes analysed. RESULTS
- Of all the study participants, only
3 percent of them had a good knowledge
in pharmacogenomics. 40 percent were
rated to have average,
53.5 percent had poor and 3.5 percent
had very poor knowledge. Majority of
them (65 percent) felt it was ethical to perform
genome sequencing before pharmacotherapy
and 78 percent were of the
opinion that it was required for the Indian
scenario. The most commonly reported
barrier for pharmacogenomic implementation
was economic constraints (52 percent)
and others such as lack of awareness,
laboratory facilities and ethical issues.
Most (78 percent) of them were in
favour of extensive incorporation of pharmacogenomic
information in the medical
curricula.CONCLUSION - The current
prevailing knowledge in pharmacogenomics
among medical students and healthcare
providers is inadequate and various
barriers limiting its implementation need to
be overcome to aid in optimising drug
therapy.
Keyword : Pharmacogenomics, Knowledge,
Attitude, Healthcare providers,
Medical students.