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

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Saudi Arabia; awareness; community pharmacists; perceptions.