A nationwide cross-sectional survey of pharmacy students on pharmacogenetic testing in The Netherlands

Abstract

Aim: To benchmark knowledge and attitude of pharmacy students toward pharmacogenetics (PGx) and PGx testing and compare the results with practicing colleagues. Methods: All pharmacy students in The Netherlands were invited to participate in a web-based survey consisting of 28 questions. Out of the 824 invited students, 148 individuals (18.0%) completed the questionnaire. All responders believed in the concept of PGx and had high expectations toward PGx. The majority (96.6%) had received some form of education on PGx, but only 12.8% felt adequately informed. Results: When compared with practicing pharmacists, differences were observed in the use of information and feeling qualified to recommend PGx testing. Conclusion: More education on PGx is required in the curriculum to fill the perceived knowledge gap among future pharmacists.