El Shamieh Said, Saleem Rimah Abdullah, Hammoudi Halat Dalal, Fakhoury Hana M A, Bastaki Kholoud, Fawaz Mirna, Malki Ahmed, Fakhoury Rajaa
Molecular Testing Laboratory, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
PLoS One. 2025 Apr 11;20(4):e0319042. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319042. eCollection 2025.
Pharmacogenomics (PGx) leverages genomic information to tailor drug therapies, enhancing precision medicine. Despite global advancements, its implementation in Lebanon, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia faces unique challenges in clinical integration. This study aimed to investigate PGx attitudes, knowledge implementation, associated challenges, forecast future educational needs, and compare findings across the three countries.
This cross-sectional study utilized an anonymous, self-administered online survey distributed to healthcare professionals, academics, and clinicians in Lebanon, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The survey comprised 18 questions to assess participants' familiarity with PGx, current implementation practices, perceived obstacles, potential integration strategies, and future educational needs.
The survey yielded 337 responses from healthcare professionals across the three countries. Data revealed significant variations in PGx familiarity and educational involvement. Qatar and Saudi Arabia participants were more familiar with PGx compared to Lebanon (83%, 75%, and 67%, respectively). Participation in PGx-related talks was most prevalent in Saudi Arabia (96%), followed by Qatar (53%) and Lebanon (35%). Key challenges identified included test cost and reimbursement, insufficient physician knowledge, and lack of infrastructure. Lebanon reported the highest concern for test costs (16%), compared to the lowest in Saudi Arabia (5%). Despite these challenges, a strong consensus emerged on PGx's potential to improve patient outcomes, with over 86% of respondents in all three countries expressing this belief. Educational interest areas varied by country, with strong interest in PGx for cancer chemotherapy in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon and for diabetes mellitus in Qatar.
This study highlights the significant influence of varied educational backgrounds and infrastructural limitations on PGx implementation across Lebanon, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The findings emphasize the need for targeted strategies in each country to address these distinct barriers. Integrating PGx education into healthcare training programs and clinical workflows could unlock PGx's potential to optimize patient care.
药物基因组学（PGx）利用基因组信息来定制药物治疗方案，从而加强精准医疗。尽管在全球范围内取得了进展，但其在黎巴嫩、卡塔尔和沙特阿拉伯的临床应用面临着独特的挑战。本研究旨在调查PGx的态度、知识应用、相关挑战，预测未来的教育需求，并比较这三个国家的研究结果。
本横断面研究采用匿名的、自行填写的在线调查问卷，分发给黎巴嫩、卡塔尔和沙特阿拉伯的医疗保健专业人员、学者和临床医生。该调查问卷包含18个问题，以评估参与者对PGx的熟悉程度、当前的应用实践、感知到的障碍、潜在的整合策略以及未来的教育需求。
该调查共收到来自这三个国家的337名医疗保健专业人员的回复。数据显示，在PGx的熟悉程度和教育参与方面存在显著差异。与黎巴嫩相比，卡塔尔和沙特阿拉伯的参与者对PGx更为熟悉（分别为83%、75%和67%）。参与PGx相关讲座在沙特阿拉伯最为普遍（96%），其次是卡塔尔（53%）和黎巴嫩（35%）。确定的主要挑战包括检测成本和报销、医生知识不足以及基础设施缺乏。黎巴嫩对检测成本的担忧最高（16%），而沙特阿拉伯最低（5%）。尽管存在这些挑战，但对于PGx改善患者治疗效果的潜力达成了强烈共识，所有三个国家超过86%的受访者都表达了这一信念。不同国家的教育兴趣领域有所不同，沙特阿拉伯和黎巴嫩对癌症化疗的PGx有浓厚兴趣，而卡塔尔对糖尿病的PGx有浓厚兴趣。
本研究强调了不同的教育背景和基础设施限制对黎巴嫩、卡塔尔和沙特阿拉伯PGx实施的重大影响。研究结果强调了每个国家需要有针对性的策略来解决这些独特的障碍。将PGx教育纳入医疗培训计划和临床工作流程可以释放PGx优化患者护理的潜力。
