Exploring Pharmacists' Perceptions of Text-Based Artificial Intelligence in Resident and Student Education

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Artificial Intelligence Applications
• Professional Development

Background:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) integration into professional fields necessitates understanding its impact on pharmacy education.
• Pharmacists' perceptions are key to adopting AI in educational and professional practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess pharmacists' concerns and perceived benefits of AI in pharmacy education.
• Examine AI perceptions across different age groups and years of practice.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey of 446 pharmacists who precept residents and students.
• Survey items covered AI quality, accuracy, human interaction, plagiarism, and benefits (data analysis, literature summarization).
• Analysis identified trends across demographic categories (age, years in practice).

Main Results:

• 67.9% concerned about AI quality/accuracy; 50.9% concerned about plagiarism.
• Younger pharmacists (20-29) showed higher accuracy concerns (73.8%) than older groups (60+; 56.8%).
• 57.8% recognized AI benefits for data analysis; experienced pharmacists (>20 years) were more likely (62.2%).

Conclusions:

• Need for targeted educational strategies on AI literacy and ethical use in pharmacy.
• Integrating AI tools requires addressing concerns to enhance efficacy and acceptance.
• Further research should focus on training programs aligned with diverse pharmacist demographics and evolving tech competencies.