Community pharmacists awareness, perceptions, and opinions of artificial intelligence: A cross-sectional study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND

Several revolutions are currently taking place in the healthcare industry to provide accurate, reliable, and valid healthcare to patients. Among these is artificial intelligence (AI).

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the CP's awareness, perceptions, and opinions of AI in health care among community pharmacists.

METHODS

This cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted over 3 months in 2023 using structured prevalidated 34 items questionnaires.

RESULTS

In this study, 94.5% (n= 258) of the CPs were aware of AI, yet 25.6% (n= 70) believed that AI would eventually replace healthcare professionals. However, 63.4% (n= 173) of the CPs concurred that AI is a technology that supports healthcare workers. 12.8% of the CPs believed that there is a risk of losing their jobs if AI is widely used in Saudi Arabia, but 68.9% (n= 188) of them considered that healthcare professionals will benefit from the extensive use of AI. Eighty-four percent of CPs (n= 232) agreed or strongly agreed that AI decreases drug mistakes in clinical practice. Similarly, 86% of the CPs (n= 235) concurred that AI makes it easier for patients to access the service. In contrast, almost 58% of the CPs (n= 232) agreed that AI makes it easier for healthcare professionals to acquire information, and 87.9% of the CPs (n= 240) said that AI helps them make better decisions.

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that most of the CPs were aware of AI and agreed that AI is a tool that helps healthcare professionals. In addition, the majority of the CPs thought that AI adoption in healthcare practice will benefit healthcare practitioners.