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INTRODUCTION: Pharmacists are poised to be the health care professionals best suited to provide medication-related consults and services based on a patient's genetics. Despite its potential benefits, the implementation of pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing into primary clinical settings has been slow among medically underserved populations. To our knowledge, this is the first time that PGx-driven recommendations have been incorporated into a Comprehensive Medication Management (CMM) service in a Hispanic population. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical utility of adding PGx guidance into pharmacist-driven CMM. METHODS: This is a pre- and post-interventional design study. Patients were recruited from a psychologist's clinic. A total of 24 patients had a face-to-face interview with a pharmacist to complete a CMM, Personal Medication Record, and Medication-Related Action Plan (MAP) blind to PGx findings. Collected buccal DNA samples were genotyped using drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters (DMET) Plus Array. RESULTS: The pharmacist generated new MAPs for each patient based on PGx results. Genetic variants that could potentially affect the safety and effectiveness of at least one drug in the pharmacotherapy were identified in 96% of patients, for whom the pharmacist changed the initial recommendations. Polymorphisms in genes encoding for isoenzymes CYP2D6, CYP2C19, and CYP2C9 were identified in 83%, 52%, and 41% of patients, respectively. Pharmacists performing CMM identified 22 additional medication problems after PGx determinations. Moreover, they agreed with the clinical utility of PGx in the studied sample based on perceived value of adding PGx to traditional CMM and its utility in the decision-making process of pharmacists. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed the critical role to be played by pharmacists in facilitating the clinical usage of relevant genetic information to optimize drug therapy decisions as well as their involvement on many levels of these multidisciplinary implementation efforts, including championing and leading PGx-guided CMM services.
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BACKGROUND: In September 2017, Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Maria, a natural disaster that caused devastation. Initial reports of disruption to the health care system were later followed by increases in the death toll in Puerto Rico. OBJECTIVE: This project assessed patient medications needs, level of satisfaction with community pharmacy services, and perceptions about the role of the pharmacist during the emergency following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. METHODOLOGY: The investigation utilized a descriptive, cross-sectional design. Data were collected at 3 community pharmacies located in San Juan, Puerto Rico: Walgreens (Specialty Pharmacy and Store 891) and Farmacia Caridad #9. Patients receiving care at these locations were invited to complete a 10-item questionnaire. These were provided with an information sheet describing details of the study prior to participation. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients participated in the study, with an average age of 59 years. The majority (77%) of the respondents reported problems related to their medications and nearly half (47.7%) reported having trouble either contacting or getting to their pharmacy following the hurricane. Regarding the role of pharmacists following a natural disaster, 94% of respondents reported the pharmacist was available to help them and 95% reported the information provided by the pharmacist was "trustworthy/very trustworthy." CONCLUSION: Although the challenges reported in Puerto Rico with regard to medications following Hurricane Maria were significant, patients reported a high level of confidence in the ability of community pharmacists to help them.