Public perceptions of pharmacogenetics.
OBJECTIVE
Pharmacogenetics (PGx) promises to optimize patient response to therapy. However, the public's acceptance of PGx is not well known, notably when this applies to children. Our objective was to explore perceptions of PGx testing among individuals, who differ from each other by either parental status or educational exposure to PGx, and to explore parents' views between PGx testing for oneself and PGx testing for their children.


METHODS
An exploratory survey was conducted among parents and other adults. Surveys P and C were completed by parents, survey NP by middle-aged nonparents, and survey MS by medical students.


RESULTS
Proper explanation before PGx testing appeared to be the most important issue to the respondents (eg, P = 1.55 × 10(-38) for survey NP). Respondents who were more knowledgeable about PGx were also more comfortable with PGx testing (eg, P = 2.53 × 10(-7) in case of mild disease). When PGx testing was for one's child, parents valued their own understanding more than their child's assent (P = 1.57 × 10(-17)).


CONCLUSIONS
The acceptability of PGx testing, either for oneself or for one's child, seemed to depend on baseline PGx knowledge, but not on parenthood.
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, and.
Steven C
SC
Zhang
Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Carleton
C
Bruce
Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Michael
M
Hayden
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, and Departments of Pediatrics, Physiology and Pharmacology, and Medicine, and University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; and mrieder@uwo.ca.
Michael J
MJ
Rieder
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D003219:Confidentiality; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011639:Public Opinion; D012985:Software Design; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
child; parents; pharmacogenetics; public opinion