Adaptation of Pharmacists toward the Implementation of Pharmaceutical Robots in Hospitals Under the Ministry of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives: 1) to study hospital pharmacists’ adaptation toward the use of pharmaceutical robots and its predictive factors and 2) to study beliefs and attitudes of hospital pharmacists with no experiences in pharmaceutical robots toward robot use and their predictive factors. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional analytical study. Study participants were pharmacists in 115 general or regional hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Public Health with experiences or no experiences on the use of pharmaceutical robots. Two sets of questionnaires were used to collect data depending on the participants’ experiences on robot use. The questionnaires consisted of 5 parts on general information, types of robots used, digital literacy, pharmaceutical competencies, adaptation, and beliefs and attitudes towards robot use. The questionnaire was developed based on Roy's concept, validated for content validity, and tested for reliability. Questionnaires were sent to all general or regional hospitals across the country. Results: Two hundred and eighty-three participants completed the questionnaires with a 49.22% of response rate. Fifty-nine pharmacists with experiences in using robots had a moderate mean score of adaptation at 3.61±0.39 from a total score of 5. Most of them used the medication counting robots (60.3%) and using the robots in inpatient pharmacy department (55.2%). Among 224 pharmacists with no experiences in using the robot, the mean score on beliefs and attitudes toward robot use was very good (3.72±0.38 out of a full score of 5). Sixty-nine point four percent expected that the medication counting robots would be used and sixty-four point two percent would use the robot in the inpatient pharmacy department. In those with experience in robot use, digital literacy was the sole significant predictor of adaptation toward robot use (b=0.446, P<0.05). Digital literacy could also significantly predict beliefs and attitudes toward the adoption of robots among those with no experience in robot use (b=0.290, P<0.05). Conclusion: Digital literacy could predict adaptation, beliefs and attitudes toward the use of pharmaceutical robots among hospital pharmacists. If the digital literacy of hospital pharmacists is adequately developed, pharmacists will be able to adapt well and be ready and able to use robots in pharmaceutical development.