Pharmacogenomics education among professional societies: assessing practices and future needs

To study the availability, perceived necessity, barriers, and preferred formats for pharmacogenomics (PGx) education disseminated to healthcare professionals by professional societies. A web-based survey of professional organizations affiliated with the Inter-Society Coordinating Committee for Practitioner Education in Genomics (ISCC-PEG), a U.S.-based initiative coordinated by the National Human Genome Research Institute, targeted representatives who could reflect their organization’s educational stance. Of the 34 unique responses analyzed, most organizations provided general and genomic education (94.1% and 82.4%, respectively), and 70.6% offered PGx-specific education. Most (61.8%) indicated they either needed major additions to the education they provide or had no PGx education resources. Key barriers included a lack of PGx focus within organizations (78.1%) and challenges in maintaining an up-to-date curriculum (75.0%). Preferred educational formats were live webinars (84.4%), hybrid courses (78.1%), and self-study modules (78.1%). Our study identifies gaps in PGx education across professional organizations and underscores the need for resources to advance clinician competence in PGx. While some PGx education is available, many organizations require additional resources and support. Enhancing PGx education through targeted initiatives by organizations like ISCC-PEG may improve clinician competence and the integration of PGx into clinical practice. Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is the study of how a person’s genes affect their response to medications. PGx testing may help make treatments safer and more effective. However, many healthcare professionals do not feel confident using PGx in their practice, mostly due to limited education and training. To understand what education is currently available, this study surveyed professional healthcare organizations that are part of the Inter-Society Coordinating Committee for Practitioner Education in Genomics (ISCC-PEG), a group focused on improving genomics education in the U.S. This study collected information on what PGx education organizations offer, what barriers they face, and what kind of resources they need. Most organizations indicated they offer some education, but many felt they need more PGx training materials. They also indicated it can be hard to keep up with new information and that PGx is not always a focus within their organization. When asked what type of education would help the most, organizations said they prefer live webinars, self-paced online courses, and hybrid learning options. This study shows that more PGx education is needed from the professional societies to help healthcare providers stay up to date in their training and to help them feel confident using genetic information to guide medication decisions. Groups like ISCC-PEG can help by working with professional organizations to create and share up-to-date educational tools.