Implementing pharmacogenomics in general practice - version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patient and professional perceptions of implementing pharmacogenomic guided prescribing in general practice
IRAS ID
270346
Contact name
Wendy Guthrie
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Dundee
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 14 days
Research summary
Currently relatively little is known about professional perceptions of implementing pharmacogenomics in general practice and even less is known about what patients think about this. This study aims to improve understanding of how “pharmacogenomics” can be used to make prescribing safer and more effective. Pharmacogenomics is the study of how genes may affect response to medicines. Pharmacogenomics combines pharmacology (the science of medicines) and genomics (the study of genes and their functions). We all differ in how our bodies handle (metabolise) medicines but prescribing tends to take a “one size fits all” approach. We all inherit genes from our parents, which determine characteristics like eye colour and blood type. Genes also influence how we process and respond to medications. Depending on your genetic make-up, some medicines work faster or slower, or produce more or fewer side-effects. Pharmacogenomic information can therefore make treatment more personalised by choosing medicines which are more likely to benefit the individual or less likely to cause side-effects. However, pharmacogenomic information is hardly ever used to guide choice of medicines. There are a number of reasons for this, including concerns about confidentiality of genetic information, and practical problems of triggering alerts when GPs prescribe. The aim of this study is to better understand patient perceptions of how best to get pharmacogenomics information used in the NHS. We will recruit members of the public and patients to a series of focus groups to explore their perceptions regarding the nature and use of pharmacogenomics information by the NHS.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
19/ES/0138
Date of REC Opinion
20 Nov 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion