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Pharmacogenomic alerts: Developing guidance for use by healthcare professionals.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Carter, John-Paul L  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2284-3362
Critchlow, James 
Jackson, Sarah 
Feger, Helene 

Abstract

AIMS: For diseases with a genetic cause, genomics can deliver improved diagnostics and facilitate access to targeted treatments. Drug pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics are often dependent on genetic variation underlying these processes. As pharmacogenomics comes of age, it may be the first way in which genomics is utilised at a population level. Still required is guidance and standards of how genomic information can be communicated within the health record, and how clinicians should be alerted to variation impacting the use of medicines. METHODS: The Professional Record Standards Body commissioned by NHS England developed guidance on using pharmacogenomics information in clinical practice. We conducted research with those implementing pharmacogenomics in England and internationally to produce guidance and recommendations for a systems-based approach. RESULTS: A consensus viewpoint is that systems need to be in place to ensure the safe provision of pharmacogenomics information that is curated, actionable and up-to-date. Standards should be established with respect to notification and information exchange, which could impact new or existing prescribing and these must be in keeping with routine practice. Alerting systems should contribute to safer practices. CONCLUSION: Ensuring pharmacogenetics information is available to make safer use of medicines will require a major effort, of which this guidance is a beginning. Standards are required to ensure useful genomic information within the health record can be communicated to clinicians in the right format and at the right times to be actioned successfully. A multidisciplinary group of stakeholders must be engaged in developing pharmacogenomic standards to support the most appropriate prescribing.

Description

Funder: NHS England; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100013963


Funder: NIHR UCLH Biomedical Centre; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100012317

Keywords

alerts, electronic health records, genomics, pharmacogenomics, Delivery of Health Care, Electronic Health Records, Genomics, Health Personnel, Humans, Pharmacogenetics

Journal Title

Br J Clin Pharmacol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0306-5251
1365-2125

Volume Title

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC‐1215‐20014)