Attitudes, Willingness, and Barriers Among Hospital Pharmacists Toward Artificial Intelligence Integration in...

Background Artificial intelligence (AI) applications are increasingly being adopted in different healthcare sectors. Hospital pharmacists are an essential part of the multidisciplinary patient care team, and their perception of AI-driven technology is significant. This study aims to assess hospital pharmacists' perspectives on the use of AI in pharmacy practice, focusing on their attitudes, willingness, and perceived challenges. Methods An observational cross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based survey for hospital pharmacists working at Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City (HBKMC), Qatar. The survey collected data on sociodemographics, willingness, attitudes, and barriers toward AI technology. The research questionnaire was developed and adopted based on an extensive literature review of similar studies, with minor changes to fit the current research setting. Descriptive data were reported. Chi-square (χ²) and Fisher's Exact tests were used as appropriate. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results Ninety-three (66.4%) hospital pharmacists responded to the questionnaire. Around 59 (63.4%) of the participants were older than 35 years, with 66 (70.9%) having more than 5 years of experience in hospital settings. Participants demonstrated a positive willingness, with a median score of 50 (IQR: 42-53.5), and favorable attitudes, with a median score of 53 (IQR: 47-57), toward AI implementation in pharmacy practice. The highest willingness to adopt AI technology among respondents was in the area of enhancing patient adherence (79.6%, n = 47), while the strongest positive attitude reflected interest in staying updated on AI applications in pharmacy practice (89.2%, n = 83). The most commonly reported barriers were challenges in addressing patients' emotional well-being and insufficient AI training, both noted by 75.3% (n = 70) of pharmacists. No significant association was detected between sociodemographic factors and hospital pharmacists' willingness or attitudes toward AI integration (p-value > 0.05). Conclusion Generally, hospital pharmacists demonstrated a positive willingness and attitude toward applications of AI technologies, while emphasizing key challenges such as concerns about the loss of empathetic care and limited training. These findings underline the need for targeted educational programs to facilitate the AI digital transformation of the health organization. Future research to evaluate the long-standing effects of AI-related training and implementation on a broader institutional setting is recommended.