Assessment of the pharmacogenomics educational needs of pharmacists.

Objectives: To evaluate the self-perceived knowledge and confidence of inpatient and outpatient pharmacists in applying pharmacogenomics information to clinical practice.
Methods: A 19-question multiple-choice, electronic needs-assessment survey instrument was distributed to 480 inpatient and outpatient pharmacists in a large, academic, multi-campus healthcare system.
Results: The survey response rate was 64% (303). Most respondents (85%) agreed that pharmacists should be required to be knowledgeable about pharmacogenomics, and 65% agreed that pharmacists should be capable of providing information on the appropriate use of pharmacogenomics testing. Sixty-three percent felt they could not accurately apply the results of pharmacogenomics tests to drug-therapy selection, dosing, or monitoring.
Conclusion: Pharmacists believe pharmacogenomics knowledge is important to the profession, but they lack the knowledge and self-confidence to act on the results of pharmacogenomics testing and may benefit from pharmacogenomics education.