An Assessment of the Knowledge, Perception, and Willingness to Use Telepharmacy Services Among the General Public in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and objectiveAt the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, numerous strategies were introduced by the authorities to contain the spread of the virus, which significantly affected people's lives and impeded their mobility. As the general public was unable to leave their dwellings, many digitalized pharmacist-led services were initiated to meet the public's needs for pharmaceutical care. The aim of this study was to ascertain the knowledge, perception, and willingness to utilize telepharmacy services and the determinants associated with these services among the general public in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). MethodologyA cross-sectional survey involving participants recruited from the Saudi general public was conducted by using a validated questionnaire. We collected information regarding participants' demographics, as well as knowledge, perception, and willingness toward telepharmacy. The results were analyzed via descriptive statistics. The Mann-Whitney U Test was applied to assess the associations between knowledge, perception, willingness, and demographic variables regarding the utilization of telepharmacy services. ResultsA total of 273 Saudi citizens participated in the study; 71% (n=193) of them were aware of telepharmacy services. Many respondents showed a positive perception towards telepharmacy services and 83% (n=227) of the total participants showed their willingness to use telepharmacy services in the future. A significant association was identified between education, gender, and the knowledge of the participants regarding telepharmacy services. The demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and education, were not associated with the participants' perception regarding telepharmacy services. However, gender was significantly associated with the willingness to use telepharmacy services in the future. ConclusionsMany participants had a fair knowledge and positive perception of telepharmacy services. More than twothirds of the participants showed their willingness to utilize telepharmacy services in the future. However, further measures should be implemented involving strategies to increase the knowledge about telepharmacy by targeting the less educated among the Saudi population and those with limited access to technology.

Knowledge, perceptions, and readiness of telepharmacy among community pharmacists

“…This may be because older pharmacists and women tend to have more experience in the field and have witnessed the evolution of pharmacy practice over time. In contrast to that, Alnajrani et al stated that there was no association between demographic characteristics (such as age, gender, and education) and the participants' perception of telepharmacy services ( Alnajrani et al, 2022 ), but the sample population in their study is the general public not healthcare professionals.…”

Assessing Telemedicine Competency Among Doctors in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…For instance, studies from China [ 11 ], Saudi Arabia [ 10 ], and India [ 12 ] show varying levels of telemedicine readiness and receptivity, owing to disparities in healthcare systems and digital infrastructure. Similar studies have been conducted with healthcare professionals and students in a variety of countries, such as Saudi Arabia [ 13 ], Indonesia [ 14 ], Pakistan [ 15 ], and the United Arab Emirates [ 16 ]. These studies show the wide range of knowledge, perspectives, and readiness to use telemedicine services.…”

“…These disparities highlight the impact of diverse healthcare infrastructures, the accessibility of digital technologies, and the existence or nonexistence of training programs linked to telemedicine in diverse contexts. These variations highlight the need for region-specific telemedicine strategies that take into account the particular requirements and environments of each area [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

“…These studies show the wide range of knowledge, perspectives, and readiness to use telemedicine services. This global viewpoint highlights how crucial it is to contextualize telemedicine adoption methods in order to maximize telemedicine's potential to improve healthcare delivery and effectively address regional disparities [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

Assessing the Awareness and Perception of Telemedicine Among the General Population in the Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia

“…In the context of Saudi Arabia, Albarrak et al [8] examined the knowledge, willingness, and perception of telemedicine among physicians in the Riyadh region, finding a low level of knowledge regarding telemedicine technologies, but a positive overall perception and willingness among physicians to use telemedicine. Similarly, Alnajrani et al [9] documented positive perception and a high level of willingness among the general public to embrace the integration of telepharmacy services. The findings also showed a correlation between the association of knowledge and willingness of the participants and their gender.…”