Effect of educational intervention on knowledge, perception, and readiness of community pharmacists for AI-driven health technologies. A quasi-experimental study

BackgroundArtificial intelligence has substantial benefits in various industries. It has emerged as a critical component of healthcare. It has remodeled the concept of community pharmacy and facilitated pharmacists with technologies for evidence-based decision-making.ObjectiveThis research aims to evaluate the impact of the intervention on community pharmacists' knowledge, perceptions, and readiness for AI-driven digital health technologies.MethodologyIt was a quasi-experimental study. A convenient sampling technique was employed to recruit community pharmacists across Lahore, Pakistan. Data was collected using self-developed, validated questionnaires. SPSS version 26 was used for statistical analysis.ResultsThe sample size comprised 54 pharmacists. The educational intervention had a significant impact on knowledge, perception, and readiness, with p-values < 0.05. Almost 30% of participants initially had inadequate knowledge about AI, but after intervention, 63% achieved good knowledge. Perceptions of AI have notably improved from 33.3% to 94.5%. Additionally, the readiness to adopt AI significantly increased to 94.4%. The intervention had a moderate effect on knowledge (d = 0.54), whereas it had large effects on perception (d = 1.08) and readiness (d = 1.04). Additionally, a positive correlation (r = 0.389, p = 0.004) was identified between changes in perception and readiness, while a slight negative correlation (r = -0.281, p = 0.039) was noted between changes in knowledge and perception.ConclusionThis research emphasises the need for adequate training and the incorporation of AI into pharmacy curricula. Hands-on training is essential for preparing future practitioners for the digital era.