Physician Readiness for Pharmacogenomics and Genomic-Guided Prescribing: A Cross-Sectional Study at Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Pharmacogenomics (PGx) enables genotype-guided prescribing to improve drug safety and efficacy; however, implementation in low- and middle-income countries remains limited. Physician readiness—encompassing knowledge, attitudes, competence, practice behavior, and perceived barriers—is critical for clinical integration. Objective: To evaluate PGx knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, practice patterns, barriers, and predictors of readiness among physicians affiliated with Government College University (GCU), Faisalabad, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 137 physicians was conducted using a structured instrument assessing objective knowledge (0–15), attitudes (1–5), self-efficacy (1–5), practice index (0–6), barrier score (1–5), and composite readiness (0–100). “Ready” was defined as ≥65. Associations were examined using t-tests, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression with adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Mean readiness was 61.2±12.8, with 32.1% classified as ready. Formal PGx training (23.4% prevalence) was associated with higher knowledge (10.8±2.0 vs 8.1±2.3; p<0.001; g=1.20) and readiness (72.0±10.0 vs 58.0±12.0; p<0.001). Training independently predicted readiness (OR=3.6; 95% CI 1.5–8.7; p=0.004), as did knowledge of local ordering pathways (OR=4.2; 95% CI 1.8–10.0; p=0.001), while higher barrier scores reduced readiness (OR=0.55 per unit increase; p=0.009). Conclusion: Physician readiness for PGx at GCU Faisalabad is moderate but suboptimal; structured education and system-level infrastructure are essential to translate favorable attitudes into genomic-guided prescribing.