Implementation of pharmacogenetic testing in pediatric oncology:  Barriers and facilitators assessment at eight Canadian academic health centres

Summary

Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing can improve drug safety, improve how well a drug works, and reduce the risk of side effects. However, the use of PGx testing in Canadian children’s cancer centres has been limited. To address this gap, the aim of this study was to assess the barriers and facilitators to using PGx testing for three cancer drugs in eight Canadian children’s cancer centres and identify strategies that could be used to support PGx testing implementation.

Using interviews with cancer centre staff, cancer patients and their families, we identified 38 facilitators and 26 barriers to using PGx testing and 6 strategies that can be used to support cancer centers in using PGx testing.

Funded By

• Genome Canada
• Genome British Columbia
• CIHR