A genotyping exercise for pharmacogenetics in pharmacy practice

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Genetics
• Medical Education

Background:

• Pharmacogenetics integrates genetic knowledge into patient care.
• Pharmacy curricula require effective methods to teach complex pharmacogenetic principles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a genotype exercise for enhancing pharmacy students' comprehension of pharmacogenetics.
• To assess the feasibility and student satisfaction with a practical genotype analysis in a classroom setting.

Main Methods:

• Collected deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from 10 student volunteers for genotype analysis.
• Presented and discussed individual genotype results within a simulated patient genetic counseling context.
• Administered a survey to gauge student attitudes and perceived learning outcomes.

Main Results:

• Students reported increased engagement with pharmacogenetics course material.
• The exercise was perceived to positively impact students' ability to apply pharmacogenetic principles to patient care.
• High levels of student satisfaction were reported.

Conclusions:

• An applied genotype exercise effectively enhanced the learning of pharmacogenetic principles.
• The exercise is feasible for large classroom settings, considering time and cost.
• This pedagogical approach significantly contributes to student satisfaction and learning.