Date of Award

Spring 5-2025

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

First Advisor

Solberg, Julie

Keywords

Pharmacogenetics, Opioid Therapy, Pain Management, Personalized Medicine

Abstract

Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons patients seek care from primary care providers. Individualized responses to pain medications make pain difficult to treat effectively. The purpose of this literature review is to examine the utility of pharmacogenetic-guided opioid therapy across chronic, postoperative, and cancer-related pain. A structured search of PubMed and Embase yielded 151 articles, of which nine met the inclusion criteria. Findings suggest that pharmacogenetic-guided therapy may reduce opioid dosages and enhance pain control, particularly in chronic pain settings. Evidence for postoperative pain outcomes was mixed, and studies on cancer-related pain emphasized the role of genetic variability in predicting adverse effects. Despite promising results, limited testing availability and low provider adherence limit integration into primary care. Further research and system-level improvements are needed to support clinical utility.

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