Public preferences for pharmacogenetic testing in the NHS: Embedding a discrete choice experiment within service design to better meet user needs

Aims Genetic testing can be used to improve the safety and effectiveness of commonly prescribed medicines—a concept known as pharmacogenetics. This study aimed to quantify members of the UK public's preferences for a pharmacogenetic service to be delivered in primary care in the National Health Service. Methods Members of the UK population were surveyed via an online panel company. Respondents completed 1 of 2 survey versions, asking respondents to select their preferred pharmacogenetic testing service in the context of a presentation of low mood or pain. A conditional logit model was estimated, before the best functional form for the dataset was identified. Preference heterogeneity was identified via latent class analysis. Coefficients from the final selected models were used to estimate uptake in the context of different hypothetical pharmacogenetic services. Results Responses from 1993 individuals were included in the analysis. There were no differences observed in preference between the 2 clinical scenarios. Conditional logit analysis, using maximum likelihood estimation, indicated that respondents preferred to have noninvasive tests and wanted their data to be shared between different healthcare organizations to guide future prescribing. There was a preference for regional over national data sharing initiatives, and respondents preferred to have access to their data. Predicted uptake varied considerably, ranging from 51% to >99%, depending on design of the service. Conclusion This study identifies public preferences for a pharmacogenetic testing service and demonstrates how predicted uptake can be impacted by relatively minor adaptations. This highlights areas for prioritization during development of future pharmacogenetic services.