Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmacy

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Department

College of Pharmacy

First Advisor

Barry A Bleidt

Publication Date / Copyright Date

2017

Publisher

Nova Southeastern University

Abstract

Background: Healthcare providers play a key role in patient care. Their knowledge and attitudes may play a critical role in the incorporation of pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing into routine practice. The knowledge and attitudes of patients are also equally important in determining the rate of diffusion and the adoption of PGx testing. This study aims to test Rogers’s diffusion of innovation theory to identify and evaluate the influence of knowledge, attitudes, and sociodemographic characteristics of patients and physicians on the adoption of PGx testing in current clinical settings. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive survey design was implemented. The sample consisted of patients with chronic diseases and licensed physicians. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), linear regression, and path analysis were performed to test the research hypotheses. Results: Limited knowledge regarding PGx testing was prevalent among patients, despite good attitudes. While the total PGx testing knowledge score was predicted significantly by levels of education, prior experience, and innovativeness, the total attitude score was predicted significantly by gender, relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, and trialability. The acceptance of PGx testing by patients was significantly influenced by their attitudes towards PGx testing and its perceived characteristics. Physicians expressed low levels of knowledge regarding PGx testing; however, the majority had favorable attitudes toward its potential clinical advantages. The total PGx testing knowledge score was predicted significantly by gender, type of practice setting, and prior experience. Physicians’ attitude score was predicted significantly by gender, relative advantage, and compatibility of PGx testing. Barriers to the adoption of PGx testing were reported. The acceptance of PGx testing by physicians was significantly influenced by the perceived characteristics of PGx testing and the perceived need for testing. Conclusion: This dissertation successfully evaluated the relationship among several factors adapted from Rogers’s theory and the adoption of PGx testing. The research is expected to provide the scientific community with an increased understanding of the decision-making process surrounding PGx testing. It will help identify the key factors and barriers that may have a significant influence on the direction of the future implementation of PGx testing, which will ultimately assist patients and physicians with therapeutic decisions.

Disciplines

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Keywords

Health and environmental sciences, Attitude, Diffusion of innovation, Knowledge, Pharmacogenetic testing, Pharmacogenetics, Physicians

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