Pharmacogenomics case-based education: Establishment of an Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) education...

Many healthcare professionals received little to no practical training on pharmacogenomics (PGx) during their degree programs. Due to a rapid influx of PGx into clinical practice, healthcare professionals face a need for education and support.

We established a PGx Extension for Community Healthcare Outcome (ECHO) program, a telementoring and education model whereby healthcare professionals learn and acquire clinical skills through real-world case presentations. The goal was to provide clinical education, foster a community of practice, and promote health equity in PGx utilization by providing convenient virtual access to PGx expertise. Here we report on the first 2 years of the program and the delivery of 29 case sessions. Most learners (42%) are pharmacists, and participation has grown dramatically. At the time of enrollment, 57.6% of learners had previously received some form of PGx education prior to attending a session. Of these, only 17.6% felt very confident in their knowledge, 43.4% felt somewhat confident, and 24.7% were not confident in their knowledge. Participants were surveyed after each session through email. Of the attendee respondents, 94% agreed or strongly agreed that the sessions increased their knowledge, 88% reported increased skill in managing medications with PGx results, and 89% felt the education would improve their performance as health professionals. Notably, 54.9% of respondents indicated they would make changes to their practice primarily by using PGx to select a new medication and change a medication.

The PGx ECHO model is an effective tool to bring together experts and learners for education and mentoring.