ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
The integration of e-Health technology into community pharmacy practice holds immense promise for revolutionizing healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes. This study explores the attitudes and perceptions of community pharmacists in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, towards the adoption of e-Health technology in their daily practice. This study aims to elucidate the factors influencing pharmacists' acceptance or resistance towards e-Health technology, including perceived benefits, challenges, and regulatory considerations.
OBJECTIVES
The study's objectives are; assessing the prevalence and extent of eHealth technology adoption, identifying contributing factors to adoption, exploring pharmacists' attitudes and perspectives, identifying obstacles and challenges to implementation.
METHODS
A Cross-sectional study was use to ascertain the attitudes and perceptions of pharmacists towards the integration of e-Health technology in community pharmacy practice in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria using well structured questionnaires. Benin City was chosen as the study area due to its vibrant community pharmacy landscape and urban prominence. The inclusion criteria encompassed pharmacists currently employed at community pharmacies in Benin City with a minimum of six months of professional experience.
RESULTS
The majority of respondents rated the integration of health technology into daily operations as average (54%), with fewer respondents rating it as good (29%) or excellent (4%). The majority perceived improved patient care and outcomes (71%) and enhanced medication management and safety (73%) as significant contributors to the adoption of health technology. Respondents largely found the use of eHealth technology moderately satisfying for improving workflow efficiency and task management (46%), communication and collaboration (76%), and overall impact (62%).
Regarding the challenges faced by community pharmacists in implementing eHealth technology in Benin City, Edo State, Technical issues showed the highest frequency and percentage (25%) while other challenges as cited by the respondents (such as funding) shows a combined percentage of 7%.
 CONCLUSION
Despite a moderate level of acceptance, challenges such as technical issues, data security concerns, and regulatory compliance hurdles hinder implementation efforts. Addressing these challenges and leveraging opportunities for improvement are essential for realizing the full potential of e-Health technologies to improve healthcare outcomes in Nigeria.
KEYWORDS
e-health, adoption, prevalence, technology, practices, attitudes, community pharmacies
