Hasan Hisham E, Jaber Deema, Khabour Omar F, Alzoubi Karem H
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22,110, Jordan.
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zarqa University, Zarqa 13,110, Jordan.
Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2025 Jun 5;17(9):102397. doi: 10.1016/j.cptl.2025.102397.
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into pharmacy practice has the potential to advance learning experiences and prepare future pharmacists for evolving healthcare needs. However, it also raises ethical considerations that need to be addressed carefully. This study aimed to explore pharmacy students' attitudes regarding AI integration into their future pharmacy practice.
A cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing a validated online questionnaire administered to pharmacy students from diverse demographic backgrounds in multiple countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region from August 2022 to January 2023. Demographic, education, and work information data were, respectively, collected from study participants. In addition, technology literacy and AI familiarity were collected using a Likert scale on skill and a Likert scale on familiarity. Finally, participants' concerns and perceived barriers regarding AI integration were collected based on a Likert scale on agreement.
A total of 702 pharmacy students participated in the study, with the majority being female (72.8 %), enrolled in public universities (55.6 %), and not employed (64.2 %). Participants expressed a generally negative attitude towards AI integration, where 56.2-70.8 % of respondents agreed/strongly agreed to concerns/barriers including patient data privacy (62.0 %), susceptibility to hacking (56.2 %), potential job displacement (69.3 %), cost limitations (66.8 %), access (69.1 %), the absence of regulations (68.1 %), and training (70.4 %), physicians' reluctance (65.1 %), and patient apprehension (70.8 %). Factors including country of residence, academic year, cumulative GPA, work status, technology literacy, and AI understanding influenced participants' attitudes. Positive correlations were found between attitude score and tech-savviness (r = 0.174), and AI understanding (r = 0.155).
Pharmacy students from multiple countries in the MENA region express significant ethical and practical concerns about AI's integration into their future practice. These findings underscore the need for incorporating AI education within pharmacy curricula, alongside the development of robust ethical guidelines and regulatory policies. Addressing students' concerns is crucial to ensuring ethical, equitable, and beneficial AI integration in future pharmacy practice.
将人工智能（AI）整合到药学实践中有可能提升学习体验，并使未来的药剂师能够满足不断变化的医疗保健需求。然而，这也引发了一些伦理问题，需要谨慎对待。本研究旨在探讨药学专业学生对将AI整合到其未来药学实践中的态度。
采用横断面设计，使用经过验证的在线问卷，于2022年8月至2023年1月对中东和北非（MENA）地区多个国家不同人口背景的药学专业学生进行调查。分别从研究参与者那里收集人口统计学、教育和工作信息数据。此外，使用技能李克特量表和熟悉程度李克特量表收集技术素养和对AI的熟悉程度。最后，根据同意程度李克特量表收集参与者对AI整合的担忧和感知障碍。
共有702名药学专业学生参与了该研究，其中大多数为女性（72.8%），就读于公立大学（55.6%），且未就业（64.2%）。参与者对AI整合普遍持消极态度，56.2%-70.8%的受访者同意/强烈同意存在包括患者数据隐私（62.0%）、易受黑客攻击（56.2%）、潜在的工作岗位替代（69.3%）、成本限制（66.8%）、获取途径（69.1%）、缺乏监管（68.1%）和培训（70.4%）、医生的不情愿（65.1%）以及患者的担忧（70.8%）等担忧/障碍。居住国家、学年、累积平均绩点、工作状态、技术素养和对AI的理解等因素影响了参与者的态度。态度得分与技术熟练程度（r = 0.174）和对AI的理解（r = 0.155）之间存在正相关。
中东和北非地区多个国家的药学专业学生对将AI整合到其未来实践中表达了重大的伦理和实际担忧。这些发现强调了在药学课程中纳入AI教育的必要性，同时制定强有力的伦理准则和监管政策。解决学生的担忧对于确保未来药学实践中AI的伦理、公平和有益整合至关重要。
