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ABSTRACT
Introduction: As an integral part of health services, digital technology plays a vital role in enhancing the health and wellbeing of their patients. The emergence of digital technology has greatly improved the delivery of healthcare by enabling better patient care, this study investigates the perception of pharmacy students in advancing the practice of hospital Pharmacy in Nigeria using digital technologies. Aim: The study investigates the perception of pharmacy students in advancing hospital Pharmacy practice in Nigeria using digital technologies Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the 500 and 600 level Pharmacy students who did clinical rotations in various hospitals in Benin City. Data for the research was obtained using a carefully designed questionnaire. Microsoft Excel was utilized for the descriptive analysis of the data. Results: Of the 135 questionnaires shared among participants, 127 were retrieved indicating a 94% response rate. A notable majority, comprising 124 individuals (97.7%), reported being familiar with digital health technologies, with over half, specifically 80 individuals (63%), currently utilizing it. The primary challenges encountered in implementation were identified as a lack of training, cited by 75 participants (59.1%), and the initial setup costs, reported by 40 participants (31.5%). The Respondents numbering 73 (57.5%), highlighted improved patient care as the primary advantage of using digital healthcare technologies, closely followed by efficient medication management, identified by 39 individuals (30.7%). Among the digital tools, telepharmacy 73 (57.5%), and electronic prescription systems 42 (30%) were the most utilized in hospitals. A strong interest in training and support for digital health technologies was identified in 105 respondents (82.7%), with Webinars/ workshops being the most preferred training method for 49 individuals (38.6%). Conclusion: Digital Technology is essential in the improvement of Hospital Pharmacy and has diverse opportunities in improving Patient care, hence need to identify and address challenges.
