EVALUATION OF STUDENT PHARMACISTS’ AWARENESS, PERCEPTIONS AND OPINIONS ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) IN PHARMACY EDUCATION

This study evaluates undergraduate student pharmacists' awareness, perceptions and opinions on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in pharmacy education. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, the study surveyed 272 pharmacy students from schools in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines during the first semester of the Academic Year 2024–2025. The survey explored factors such as demographic influences, prior AI knowledge and students' perceived usefulness and ease of use of AI tools. Findings revealed that over 70% of participants demonstrated awareness of AI technologies, with significant differences observed in perceptions based on prior understanding and digital proficiency. Familiarity with AI tools positively influenced student attitudes, while demographic factors such as age and gender had minimal impact. Students expressed concerns regarding AI's ethical, legal and practical implications in pharmacy education. Conclusion: The results underscore the importance of integrating AI-related content and practical training into pharmacy curricula to foster a more tech-savvy workforce. Recommendations for future research include longitudinal studies and empirical assessments of AI's impact on clinical competence and patient outcomes.