Patient perspectives of a multidisciplinary Pharmacogenomics clinic
Creators: name: Maska, Lindy
name: Donnelly, Roseann S.
name: Kerman, Benjamin J.
name: Cirino, Allison
name: Fieg, Elizabeth
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: Medicine
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Science Policy
Hematology

description: To assess patient perspectives following evaluation in a multidisciplinary pharmacogenomics clinic run by a clinical pharmacist, genetic counselor, and physician. A survey was distributed to 187 adults seen in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Pharmacogenomics Clinic. Participants who completed the survey were invited to complete a semi-structured interview. Interview subjects were selected based on order of responses, scheduling availability, and range of participant experiences with testing and the clinic process. Surveys were analyzed with descriptive statistics, and interview transcripts were analyzed with thematic analysis. Forty-two survey responses were received; 13 participants were interviewed. Quantitative data demonstrated high satisfaction with the multidisciplinary clinic model and belief that pharmacogenomic testing has value. Qualitative analysis identified four themes: 1) Self-Advocacy as a Patient Responsibility in the Utilization of Pharmacogenomic Results, 2) High Satisfaction with Multidisciplinary Pharmacogenomics Clinic Model and Team, 3) Utility of Pharmacogenomics, and 4) Desire for Pharmacogenomics Resources. Patients value the care provided by a multidisciplinary pharmacogenomics clinic team, but they need to advocate for the use of their results with other healthcare professionals. Pharmacogenomic testing helps patients and health care providers understand how a person’s genes can affect their response to medications. This study explored the experiences of patients who attended a multidisciplinary pharmacogenomics clinic staffed by a clinical pharmacist, genetic counselor, and physician. Through surveys and interviews, we examined levels of patient satisfaction with their clinic experience, perceived usefulness of pharmacogenomic testing, and barriers to clinical implementation of test results. Most patients were highly satisfied with the clinic’s team-based approach and felt that pharmacogenomic testing provided valuable insights into their medication experiences. Many appreciated how their test results helped explain prior adverse reactions and/or had the potential to inform future medication management decisions. However, some patients struggled to get their healthcare providers to use their results in medical decisions, which led to patients feeling burdened by the responsibility of advocating for themselves. Several patients also felt that their providers lacked knowledge about pharmacogenomics, leading to frustration and distrust. Patients expressed a strong desire for the development and availability of resources that would improve the utility of pharmacogenomic results, such as clearer guidance regarding how the results can be used in clinical care and an automated update process to reinterpret their results in the future as pharmacogenomic research evolves. Overall, this study highlights positive patient experiences in a pharmacogenomics clinic, high levels of perceived value and satisfaction with results of pharmacogenomic testing, and challenges patients experience when trying to ensure that their results are appropriately utilized in clinical care. Expanding education and support for both patients and providers could improve the clinical integration and maximize the utility of pharmacogenomics in healthcare.