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Jarab AS, Al-Qerem W, Mukattash T, Al-Azayzih A, Kharaba Z, Heshmeh SA, Al-Momani J, Hamdan R, Al Hamarneh YN, Eberhardt J. Factors Influencing Public Attitudes and Willingness to Utilize Telepharmacy Services in the UAE. Int J Telemed Appl 2024; 2024:5755493. [PMID: 39188938 PMCID: PMC11347028 DOI: 10.1155/2024/5755493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Telepharmacy, utilizing telecommunications to dispense pharmaceutical products and deliver patient care, offers numerous benefits for both the public and pharmacists. Previous research on exploring attitudes and willingness to use telepharmacy services has primarily focused on pharmacists rather than the general population. Aim: This study is aimed at assessing the attitudes and willingness of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population to utilize telepharmacy services and identifying the factors influencing their inclination to use these services. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a survey was distributed using convenience and snowball sampling to individuals aged 18 or older across the UAE through various social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp. The survey domains included sociodemographics, attitudes, and readiness to utilize a telepharmacy service. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the variables associated with participants' willingness to utilize telepharmacy in the future. Results: In total, 963 individuals participated in the study. Participants showed overall positive attitudes towards telepharmacy, with 70.9% believing that telepharmacy saved time and effort. While only 32% of the participants acknowledged that numerous telepharmacy services were available for use in the UAE, most were interested in using telepharmacy services in the future (79.2%). Participants who had higher attitude scores (AOR = 1.147, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-1.18) and those who had used these services previously (AOR = 3.270, 95% CI: 1.692-6.320) were more interested in using telepharmacy services in the future. Conclusion: Forthcoming healthcare strategies should focus on expanding the availability of telepharmacy services throughout various regions of the country. This expansion will facilitate the broader utilization of these services and ultimately contribute to improved health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anan S. Jarab
- College of PharmacyAL Ain University, PO Box 122612, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Department of Clinical PharmacyFaculty of PharmacyJordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Walid Al-Qerem
- Department of PharmacyFaculty of PharmacyAl-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, PO Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan
| | - Tareq Mukattash
- Department of Clinical PharmacyFaculty of PharmacyJordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Ahmad Al-Azayzih
- Department of Clinical PharmacyFaculty of PharmacyJordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and PharmacotherapeuticsCollege of PharmacyUniversity of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Zelal Kharaba
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and PharmacotherapeuticsCollege of PharmacyUniversity of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Shrouq Abu Heshmeh
- Department of Clinical PharmacyFaculty of PharmacyJordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Joud Al-Momani
- Department of Clinical PharmacyFaculty of PharmacyJordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Rama Hamdan
- College of PharmacyAL Ain University, PO Box 122612, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Yazid N. Al Hamarneh
- Department of PharmacologyFaculty of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Judith Eberhardt
- Department of PsychologySchool of Social SciencesHumanities and LawTeesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
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Abd El Mawgod MM, Alshutayli AA, Alanazi SM, Alqahtani WN, Alqahtani NA, Alamri AM, Alshammari NZ. Awareness and Perception of Telemedicine Among the General Population in the Central, Northern, and Western Regions of Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2024; 16:e64895. [PMID: 39161500 PMCID: PMC11332973 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.64895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telemedicine is a paradigm shift that utilizes technology for remote healthcare delivery, improving the quality of care. OBJECTIVES This study aims to assess the general population's awareness and perception regarding telemedicine in the central, northern, and western regions of Saudi Arabia. METHODS A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the central, northern, and western regions of Saudi Arabia from January 2024 to May 2024. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, including sociodemographic information and questions to assess participants' awareness and perception of telemedicine. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27 (Released 2020; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), with significance at p < 0.05. RESULTS Out of 414 adult participants in the study, 264 (63.8%) were female, and 205 (49.5%) were below the age of 25. Approximately a quarter of the participants reported being very or moderately familiar with telemedicine. Furthermore, most participants (80.5%, 243) expressed their willingness to try telemedicine. The most common barriers to telemedicine practice were concerns about diagnostic reliability, resistance from physicians, and patient resistance. The study found no significant associations between participants' sociodemographic variables, their familiarity with telemedicine, and their readiness to adopt it. CONCLUSION While there is a low level of awareness and knowledge regarding telemedicine among general populations in Saudi Arabia, there is generally a positive perception and willingness to adopt telemedicine for improved healthcare delivery. Addressing barriers to adopting such technology is crucial to ensure the country's successful implementation and widespread acceptance of telemedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed M Abd El Mawgod
- Family and Community Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, SAU
- Public Health and Community Medicine, AlAzhar University, Assiut, EGY
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Mabu Shareef S, Prakash Goud B, Domalapally B, Naser Ashraf T. Assessing Telemedicine Competency Among Doctors in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus 2024; 16:e57712. [PMID: 38711686 PMCID: PMC11070893 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The use of telemedicine in contemporary healthcare has become essential, providing a novel method of delivering care, particularly in rural and underdeveloped areas. This study assesses the telemedicine awareness, knowledge, attitude, skills, and challenges among physicians working in tertiary care hospitals. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out with 100 doctors from diverse specialties at a tertiary care institution. The questionnaire evaluated five domains: telemedicine awareness and knowledge, telemedicine attitude, telemedicine technology skills, telemedicine utilization patterns, and perceived barriers and educational needs. Results The study indicated that 95% of participants were aware of telemedicine. However, knowledge gaps remained, particularly in legal and ethical concerns (50%) and international rules (40%). Eighty percent of respondents had a favorable opinion of telemedicine, and 85% thought it might improve patient care in rural regions. The proficiency level of telemedicine users was variable: 60% of them had previous experience, and 70% of them rated their proficiency as intermediate or better. According to utilization patterns, 50% of telemedicine users used it at least once a week, primarily for remote monitoring (30%) and video consultations (60%). The study found that 90% of respondents had a high demand for training and educational opportunities. The absence of infrastructure (65%), worries about data security (55%), and patient acceptability (30%) were the main obstacles found. It also highlighted how important it is to have defined policies and collaborate across disciplines. Conclusion The study identifies a good attitude toward telemedicine among doctors as well as a need for improved training and infrastructure. It is essential to tackle these requirements and obstacles in order to successfully incorporate telemedicine into healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaik Mabu Shareef
- Department of Pharmacology, Dr. YSR Government Medical College, Pulivendula, IND
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Wathoni N, Lestari K, Iftinan GN, Rahayu SA, Nurlatifah A, Khairinisa MA, Elamin KM. Knowledge, Perception, and Readiness of Indonesian Pharmacists for the Implementation of Telepharmacy-Based Pharmaceutical Services in Indonesia. INTEGRATED PHARMACY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2023; 12:213-225. [PMID: 38021082 PMCID: PMC10676650 DOI: 10.2147/iprp.s434790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Telepharmacy, a digital technology-driven approach, has emerged as a potential solution to address the challenges posed by this pandemic. Telepharmacy is a method used in pharmaceutical practice where a pharmacist utilizes telecommunications technology to supervise aspects of pharmacy operations or provide patient care services. This study aimed to assess pharmacists' level of knowledge, perception, and readiness toward telepharmacy in Indonesia. Methods A cross-sectional approach was used in this study, and non-probabilistic purposive sampling technique was used to select respondents who were Indonesian pharmacists. The Telepharmacy Knowledge, Perception, and Readiness questionnaire, translated into Indonesian and administered online, was used to measure the pharmacist's knowledge, perception, and readiness level. Descriptive and inferential data analyses were performed using SPSS version 26, with a p-value of ≤0.05 considered statistically significant. Results A total of 378 responses were obtained, with 96.83% exhibiting high knowledge and 63.23% showing high readiness for telepharmacy services. Furthermore, 58.20% of respondents had a positive perception of telepharmacy services. The results indicate a significant influence of pharmacist's knowledge and perception on their readiness to implement telepharmacy services in the future practice. Conclusion Most study participants had sufficient knowledge, positive perceptions, and readiness to implement telepharmacy services in their future pharmaceutical practice. However, they expressed concerns about the potential for an increased workload and the potential lack of incentives associated with the widespread adoption of telepharmacy practice models. Telepharmacy practice models must be included in the training programs that train future's pharmacists in order to ensure that they have the abilities required to offer telepharmacy services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasrul Wathoni
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia
| | - Keri Lestari
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia
| | - Ghina Nadhifah Iftinan
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia
| | - Susi Afrianti Rahayu
- Department of Pharmacy, Akademi Farmasi Bumi Siliwangi, Bandung, 40286, Indonesia
| | - Anggun Nurlatifah
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia
| | - Miski Aghnia Khairinisa
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia
| | - Khaled M Elamin
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan
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Talmesany TA, Alzahrani MA, Alzahrani OM, Alzahrani SA, Al-Omari TK, Alghamdi SM, Alzahrani MA. Assessing the Awareness and Perception of Telemedicine Among the General Population in the Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2023; 15:e49732. [PMID: 38046730 PMCID: PMC10690062 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Telemedicine plays an important role in healthcare by improving the quality of the healthcare system. However, various challenges associated with the effective implementation of telemedicine have been reported. This study aimed to explore the awareness and utilization of telemedicine services among the general population in the Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia and the factors affecting it. Using a cross-sectional design for the study, the quantitative approach was employed through a questionnaire-based survey. Data from 359 participants from the Al-Baha general population were collected, including both males and females over the age of 18. The analysis of the collected data shows a low level of familiarity within the general population; indeed, 54.9% (197) of participants have experienced using telemedicine services. Moreover, the study reveals that the major concerns influencing the use of telemedicine services are limited availability, privacy and security, and quality of care. Almost half of the participants have used telemedicine, and they expressed concerns related to quality of care, privacy and security, limited availability, and technical difficulties. However, telemedicine was positively perceived among the participants. There is a need to raise public awareness about the importance and effectiveness of telemedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terad A Talmesany
- Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, SAU
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Ahmed NJ, Almalki ZS, Alsawadi AH, Alturki AA, Bakarman AH, Almuaddi AM, Alshahrani SM, Alanazi MB, Alshehri AM, Albassam AA, Fatani S, Alahmari AK, Aldosari SA, Alamer AA. Knowledge, perceptions, and readiness of telepharmacy among community pharmacists. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:101713. [PMID: 37559867 PMCID: PMC10406857 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Telepharmacy is a practical part of telemedicine that refers to providing pharmaceutical services within the scope of the pharmacist's obligations while maintaining a temporal and spatial distance between patients, users of health services, and healthcare professionals. The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted among community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia between March and May 2022 to assess their knowledge, perceptions, and readiness for telepharmacy. The survey was filled out by 404 respondents. The majority of respondents were male (59.90%) and the age of more than half of them was between 30 and 39 years old (54.46%). Most participants worked in urban areas (83.66%), and 42.57% had less than five years of experience in a pharmacy. Most participants agreed that telepharmacy is available in Saudi Arabia (82.67%). Approximately 70% of pharmacists felt that telepharmacy promotes patient medication adherence, and 77.72% agreed that telepharmacy increases patient access to pharmaceuticals in rural areas. More than 72% of pharmacists said they would work on telepharmacy initiatives in rural areas for free, and 74.26% said they would work outside of usual working hours if necessary. In the future, this research could aid in adopting full-fledged telepharmacy pharmaceutical care services in Saudi Arabia. It could also help academic initiatives by allowing telepharmacy practice models to be included as a topic course in the curriculum to prepare future pharmacists to deliver telepharmacy services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nehad J. Ahmed
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ziyad S. Almalki
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asmaa H. Alsawadi
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Almaarefa University, 13713 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmohsen A. Alturki
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz H. Bakarman
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Almaarefa University, 13713 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alwaleed M. Almuaddi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saeed M. Alshahrani
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Meshari B. Alanazi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed M. Alshehri
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed A. Albassam
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah Fatani
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah K. Alahmari
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saad A. Aldosari
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad A. Alamer
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
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Abu-Farha R, Alzoubi KH, Abu Assab M, Awwad O, Gharaibeh L, Mukattash TL, Halboup AM. Perception and Willingness to Use Telepharmacy Among the General Population in Jordan. Patient Prefer Adherence 2023; 17:2131-2140. [PMID: 37650044 PMCID: PMC10464898 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s428470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This research aimed to explore how telepharmacy is perceived, whether it would be willingly used by the overall population in Jordan, and the associated socioeconomic disparities that might affect its acceptance. Methods This is a survey-based cross-sectional study involving the general public of Jordan. The study took place in various Jordanian cities from May 2nd to June 1st, 2023. Using Google forms, the questionnaire was shared through various social media channels (such as Facebook and WhatsApp). Results The questionnaire received responses from 800 participants. The data showed that a sizable portion of the Jordanian population were unaware of telepharmacy (n= 343, 42.9%), and a majority had never utilized it (n= 131, 16.4%). The participants viewed the main advantage of telepharmacy as minimizing unnecessary trips to pharmacies (n= 668, 83.5%) and reducing travel time and expenses (n= 632, 79.0%). However, the primary concern was the mental effort required to use this service (n= 465, 58.1%). Of the respondents, 61.3% (n= 490) indicated a willingness to adopt telepharmacy services in the future. Regression analysis indicated that men were more likely to use this service compared to women (OR= 1.947, p<0.001), and people living in northern and southern Jordan exhibited a greater willingness compared to those inhabiting the central region (OR= 2.168, p<0.001). Conclusion The results reveal a positive attitude towards and a significant readiness to embrace telepharmacy among the Jordanian population. However, for broader acceptance and utilization, apprehensions regarding the service need to be addressed. Doing so could improve access to pharmaceutical care, particularly for patients living in far-flung areas of Jordan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Abu-Farha
- Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Karem H Alzoubi
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Mohammad Abu Assab
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zarqa University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Oriana Awwad
- Department Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Lobna Gharaibeh
- Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Tareq L Mukattash
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Abdulsalam M Halboup
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen
- Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
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