Previous studies have shown limited pharmacogenomic knowledge among providers/prescribers, which impairs translation into clinical practice¹.

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how genes influence response to medications².

This study assessed the impact of using computer-based clinical decision support (CDS) to identify providers in need of pharmacogenomic education and deliver such education electronically.

Between 10/26/2013 and 1/22/2014 our system identified all the providers prescribing codeine or tramadol and sent a one-time email with specific pharmacogenomic information about these medications and CYP2D6 testing. The email also had links to additional online education.

Access to the online resource data was collected electronically. Providers were surveyed regarding their experience.

During the 3 month study period, 1,815 providers were identified and sent the educational email.

• Survey response rate: 530/1815 (29%)
• 225/530 (42.6%) reported NOT opening the email
  • didn’t remember n=147
  • insufficient time n=70
  • 9.8% were not interested in this topic
• 27.1% self-reported using the info-link. Of those that used the information-link, 89.1% found the pharmacogenomics information useful
• 90% agreed they learned something new about pharmacogenomics.

• Our data show the use of email to deliver education may be affected by the overall burden of emails received by providers.
• It seems difficult to sort out emails with potential educational value.
• However, access to pharmacogenomic education seems welcome by providers who are using medications affected by CYP2D6.
• Using CDS to identify providers in need of pharmacogenomic education is a reasonable strategy; however, the use of email to deliver this education is inadequate to capture their attention.

Targeted e-mail is convenient, but inefficient to disseminate education to busy providers.

http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/center-for-individualized-medicine/

http://individualizingmedicineconference.mayo.edu/

1. Stanek EJ, et. al. Adoption of pharmacogenomic testing by US physicians: Results of a nationwide survey. Clinical Pharmacology Therapy. 2012; 91, pp. 450-458.

2. Weinshilboum R. Inheritance and drug response. New England Journal of Medcine. 2003;348:529-537

3. Pluye P, Grad RM, Granikov V, Jagosh J, Leung K. Evaluation of email alerts in practice. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. 2010; 16, pp. 1227-1235.