Assessment of Healthcare Students‘ Views on Pharmacogenomics at the University of Minnesota

AIM: The aim was to determine if the University of Minnesota (MN, USA) healthcare students' perceived value of pharmacogenomics matches their self-observed comfort and education in pharmacogenomics. MATERIALS & METHODS: A 24-question, anonymous, online survey was distributed to all pharmacy, nursing and medical students enrolled at the University of Minnesota. RESULTS: Among healthcare students, 70.6% agreed or strongly agreed that pharmacogenomics should be an important part of their curriculum; however, only 11.1% agreed or strongly agreed that it actually is. Only 29.7% of students reported taking a genetics course that specifically addressed the applications of genetics in pharmacy, and those students were more likely to feel comfortable interpreting information from a pharmacogenetics test, answering questions on pharmacogenomics, educating patients on risks and benefits of testing, and were comfortable that they knew which medications required pharmacogenomics testing. CONCLUSION: Healthcare students consider pharmacogenomics to be an important area of clinical practice; yet generally express it has not been an important part of their curriculum. Education emphasizing medical applications of pharmacogenomics can increase student comfort level in pharmacogenomics practice.