Assessment of healthcare students' views on pharmacogenomics at the University of Minnesota.
OBJECTIVE
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.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, MN, USA.
Meg
M
Moen
Jatinder
J
Lamba
D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004506:Education, Nursing; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D006801:Humans; D008910:Minnesota; D010597:Pharmacogenetics / Q000193:education*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires