Academic and professional pharmacy education: a pharmacogenomics certificate training program

Area of Science:

• Pharmacogenomics and Pharmaceutical Education
• Genetics in Medicine
• Healthcare Professional Training

Background:

• Pharmacogenomics is crucial for optimizing drug therapy.
• Pharmacists require specialized training to effectively implement pharmacogenomics.
• Existing training programs may not adequately cover all essential competencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a pharmacogenomics certificate training program.
• To assess the program's impact on pharmacist competencies in genetics and pharmacogenomics.
• To measure changes in self-assessed understanding of ethical, legal, and social implications.

Main Methods:

• A 6-week self-study program followed by a 7-hour live interactive session.
• Participants included pharmacists, pharmacy students, and educators.
• Pre- and post-program surveys assessed competency, alongside chapter quizzes and simulated patient encounters.

Main Results:

• Pharmacist participants achieved an average quiz score of 91%.
• A statistically significant increase in self-assessed pharmacogenomics competence was observed among pharmacists.
• Recommendations for drug-gene interactions were correctly addressed in 95% of simulated patient encounters.

Conclusions:

• The certificate program effectively enhanced pharmacists' self-understanding of pharmacogenomics competencies.
• The blended learning approach (self-study and live interaction) is beneficial for knowledge acquisition.
• Accessible electronic platforms can facilitate broader pharmacogenomics education for healthcare professionals.