Evaluation of Awareness, Utilization, and Barriers to The Adoption of Digital Health Technology Among Hospital and Community Pharmacists in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

Digital health technologies (DHTs) are increasingly recognized for their potential to enhance the efficiency, safety, and quality of healthcare delivery. Despite their growing global adoption, evidence on awareness and utilization among pharmacists in developing regions such as Nigeria remains limited. This study assessed the awareness, utilization patterns, and barriers to adoption of DHTs among hospital and community pharmacists in Yenagoa Metropolis, Bayelsa State.

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured self-administered questionnaire distributed to licensed practicing pharmacists. A total of 170 questionnaires were distributed to licensed practicing pharmacists in Yenagoa Metropolis, Bayelsa State. Of these, 161 were correctly completed and returned, yielding a response rate of 95%. The findings revealed high awareness of core DHTs, with 74% of respondents aware of electronic health records/electronic medical records (EHR/EMR) and e-prescribing systems, and 72% aware of drug interaction and medication safety clinical decision support systems (CDSS); however, awareness of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven CDSS was lower at 52%, with 19% not aware of AI-driven CDSS specifically. Utilization patterns showed limited engagement with EHR/EMR and e-prescribing systems, as 35% and 39% of respondents, respectively, reported never using them; AI-driven CDSS had the lowest utilization, with 53% never using it. In contrast, pharmacy management tools demonstrated higher adoption, with 51% reporting often or very often use. DHTs were most commonly applied in documentation (88%) and inventory management (80%), whereas teleconsultation services showed the lowest application (35%). Major barriers to adoption included lack of government policy (86%), high cost of digital tools (78%), poor availability of digital devices (78%), limited technical and management support (74%), poor internet connectivity (72%), and lack of training (70%).

The study concludes that while pharmacists in Yenagoa exhibit substantial awareness of DHTs, their utilization remains constrained by systemic, infrastructural, and organizational barriers. Strengthened policy support, targeted capacity-building programs, and improved digital infrastructure are recommended to promote effective integration of DHTs into pharmacy practice.

The rapid advancement of information and communication technologies has transformed healthcare delivery globally. In recent years, digital health technologies (DHTs) have emerged as critical tools for enhancing healthcare efficiency, quality of care, patient safety, and clinical decision-making. These technologies support key health system functions, including service delivery, data management, patient monitoring, and inter-professional collaboration.

Digital health technologies encompass a broad array of tools, such as electronic health records (EHRs), electronic prescribing systems, clinical decision support systems (CDSS), telehealth platforms, mobile health (mHealth) applications, pharmacy management systems, automated dispensing technologies, and digital pharmacovigilance tools. In established healthcare systems, these technologies improve documentation accuracy, streamline workflows, and promote safer medication practices.

Pharmacists play a central role in healthcare through medication management, patient counseling, pharmacovigilance, and collaboration with other professionals. The integration of DHTs into pharmacy practice holds significant potential to augment these functions by facilitating evidence-based clinical decisions, minimizing medication errors, and advancing patient-centered pharmaceutical care. As pharmacy evolves toward technology-enabled, patient-focused models, effective adoption of digital tools becomes essential.

Despite global emphasis on digital health, adoption remains suboptimal in many low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Barriers frequently cited include inadequate infrastructure, high implementation costs, limited technical and management support, insufficient training, unreliable internet connectivity, and regulatory gaps. These challenges are particularly acute in resource-constrained settings, where digital literacy and access to reliable devices may also be limited.

In Nigeria, pharmacists operate in diverse hospital and community settings that vary in organizational structure, funding, and digital infrastructure availability. Such variations likely influence exposure to and utilization of DHTs across practice environments. However, empirical evidence on pharmacists’ awareness, utilization patterns, and barriers in specific Nigerian contexts remains scarce, with most studies focusing on broader health workforce or educational integration rather than practicing pharmacists.

Yenagoa Metropolis in Bayelsa State represents a key urban healthcare hub in the Niger Delta region, where infrastructural and workforce constraints persist. Assessing pharmacists’ awareness, utilization patterns, and perceived barriers to DHT adoption in this setting is vital for identifying context-specific gaps. Such insights can inform targeted interventions, policy formulation, and capacity-building initiatives to foster technology-enabled pharmacy practice and contribute to broader digital health transformation in Nigeria.

Study Design

A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed to assess the awareness, utilization patterns, and barriers to the adoption of digital health technologies among hospital and community pharmacists in Yenagoa Metropolis, Bayelsa State. This design facilitated data collection from a defined population at a single point in time and is widely used in pharmacy practice and health services research to evaluate awareness, practices, and challenges.

Study Setting

The study was conducted in Yenagoa Metropolis, the capital city of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Yenagoa hosts multiple public and private healthcare facilities, including hospitals and registered community pharmacies, where licensed pharmacists provide pharmaceutical services.

Study Population

The target population comprised licensed and practicing pharmacists in hospital and community pharmacy settings within Yenagoa Metropolis. Records obtained from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria indicated a total of 246 such pharmacists in the study area.

Sample Size Determination

The sample size was calculated using the Taro Yamane (1967) formula for finite populations: n = N/ [1 + N(e)²]

where: n = required sample size, N = population size (246), e = margin of error (0.05).

Substituting the values:

n = 246 / [1 + 246(0.05)²]

n = 246 / [1 + 246(0.0025)]

n = 246 / [1 + 0.615]

n = 246 / 1.615 ≈ 152.

To account for potential non-response, a 10 percentage adjustment was applied: (152 × 10)/100 = 15.2

Adjusted sample size = 152 + 15.2 ≈ 167.2, rounded up to 170 for adequate representation.

Sampling Technique

A cluster sampling technique was utilized to ensure representation from both hospital and community pharmacy settings. Pharmacists were clustered by facility type (hospital vs. community), with participants then selected within each cluster to achieve the target sample size.

Research Instrument

Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire developed from relevant literature and aligned with the study objectives. The questionnaire comprised four sections:

• Section A: Demographic and practice characteristics.
• Section B: Awareness of digital health technologies.
• Section C: Utilization patterns of digital health technologies.
• Section D: Barriers to the adoption of digital health technologies.

The instrument focused on globally recognized digital health technologies relevant to pharmacy practice, including electronic health records/electronic medical records (EHR/EMR), e-prescribing systems, clinical decision support systems (CDSS) for drug interactions and medication safety, AI-driven CDSS, pharmacy management tools, telepharmacy platforms, and mobile health (mHealth) applications.

Data Collection

Paper-based questionnaires were distributed directly to pharmacists at their practice sites to minimize non-response due to busy schedules. Respondents were provided sufficient time to complete the questionnaire, and completed forms were retrieved on-site. Participation was voluntary, with informed consent obtained from each participant prior to administration.

Data Analysis

Completed questionnaires were checked for completeness, coded, and entered into Microsoft Excel for analysis. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to summarize demographic characteristics, awareness levels, utilization patterns, and perceived barriers.

Ethical Considerations

Ethical approval was obtained from the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health Research Ethics Committee before data collection. Permission was also obtained from the relevant healthcare facilities and pharmacies. Participation was voluntary, and informed consent was obtained from all respondents. Confidentiality and anonymity were maintained by excluding personal identifiers, with all data used solely for research purposes.

Response Rate

A total of 170 questionnaires were distributed to licensed practicing pharmacists in Yenagoa Metropolis, Bayelsa State. Of these, 161 were correctly completed and returned, yielding a response rate of 95%. The completed questionnaires were included in the subsequent data analysis.

Socio-Demographic and Practice Characteristics of Respondents

The socio-demographic and practice characteristics of the respondents are presented in Table 1. The majority of respondents were aged 25-34 years (53%), followed by those aged 35-44 years (19%). Respondents aged less than 25 years accounted for 18%, while those aged 45-54 years and ≥55 years constituted 9% and 1%, respectively.

Table 1: Socio-Demographic and Practice Characteristics of Respondents (n = 161).

Female pharmacists comprised 57% of the sample, while males accounted for 43%. In terms of educational qualifications, the majority held a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) degree (66%), followed by MSc (16%), PharmD (9%), and fellowship qualifications (9%). Only 1% reported other qualifications. Regarding years of practice experience, 45% had 1-5 years, while 22% had less than 1 year and another 22% had 6-10 years. Those with over 10 years of experience accounted for 10%. Practice setting distribution showed 63% in hospital pharmacies and 37% in community pharmacies. Most respondents (60%) worked in government facilities, compared to 40% in private facilities. Access to digital health technologies was reported by 82% of respondents, while 18% indicated no access.

Awareness of Digital Health Technologies

Respondents’ levels of awareness of selected digital health technologies are presented in Table 2. Awareness was highest for electronic health/medical records (EHR/EMR), with 51% aware and 23% very aware. E-prescribing systems showed similarly high awareness, with 56% aware and 18% very aware.

Table 2: Awareness of Digital Health Technologies among Pharmacists (n = 161).

For drug interaction checkers and medication safety clinical decision support systems (CDSS), 52% were aware and 21% very aware. Awareness of AI-driven CDSS was lower, with 42% aware, 10% very aware, and 19% not aware at all. Awareness of digital pharmacovigilance tools and pharmacy management tools was moderate (42% and 50% aware, respectively). Automated dispensing systems had lower awareness (37% aware). Telepharmacy/telehealth platforms and mobile health applications showed moderate to high awareness (53% and 49% aware, respectively), with approximately one-fifth very aware for each.

Utilization Patterns of Digital Health Technologies

The utilization patterns of digital health technologies are presented in Table 3. Utilization of EHR/EMR systems was generally low, with 35% of respondents reporting never using them and only 8% using them very often. A similar pattern was observed for e-prescribing systems, with 39% never using them.

Table 3: Utilization Patterns of Digital Health Technologies among Pharmacists (n = 161).

Drug interaction checkers and medication safety CDSS showed 32% never used them, while 9% used them very often. AI-driven CDSS recorded the lowest utilization, with 53% never using these systems. In contrast, pharmacy management tools demonstrated relatively higher utilization, with 28% often using them and 23% very often. Utilization of telepharmacy/telehealth platforms and mobile medication management applications was moderate, with most respondents reporting sometimes or often use.

Areas of Application of Digital Health Technologies in Pharmacy Practice

The areas in which respondents reported using digital health technologies are presented in Table 4. The highest utilization was in documentation (88%), followed by inventory/stock management (80%).

Table 4: Areas of Digital Health Technology Use among Pharmacists (n = 161).

Moderate utilization was reported in dispensing activities (61%). Digital tools were used for patient counseling and pharmacovigilance reporting by 43 percentage each, and for drug interaction screening by 41%. The lowest utilization was in teleconsultation services (35%).

Barriers to The Adoption of Digital Health Technologies

The most frequently reported moderate to major barriers to adoption are summarized as follows (detailed in the corresponding Table 5). Lack of government policy or guidelines was the most prominent (86%), followed by high cost of digital tools (78%) and poor availability of digital devices (78%). Other key barriers included limited technical support (74%), lack of management support (74%), and poor internet connectivity (72%). Lack of training was reported as a moderate to major barrier by 70%.

Table 5: Barriers to Adoption of Digital Health Technologies among Pharmacists (n = 161).

High workload and time constraints were noted at moderate levels (approximately 60-65%). Resistance to change showed varied responses, with 17% indicating it was not a barrier, while the remainder reported it as a minor to major barrier.

This study assessed the awareness, utilization patterns, areas of application, and barriers to the adoption of digital health technologies (DHTs) among hospital and community pharmacists in Yenagoa Metropolis, Bayelsa State. The findings revealed varying levels of awareness and utilization across DHTs, with preferential application in administrative tasks and prominent systemic barriers limiting broader integration.

Awareness of Digital Health Technologies

Awareness was relatively high for foundational technologies such as electronic health/medical records (EHR/EMR), e-prescribing systems, and drug interaction/medication safety clinical decision support systems (CDSS), with most respondents reporting awareness or very high awareness. This pattern aligns with observations in similar low-resource settings, where basic electronic systems gain familiarity through increasing exposure in healthcare delivery. In contrast, awareness of advanced technologies, including AI-driven CDSS, automated dispensing systems, and certain digital pharmacovigilance tools, was lower. This disparity mirrors findings in Nigerian and sub-Saharan African contexts, where limited practical exposure and resource constraints restrict familiarity with emerging tools.

Utilization Patterns of Digital Health Technologies

Despite reasonable awareness of core DHTs, utilization remained limited, particularly for EHR/EMR, e-prescribing, and AI-driven CDSS, with substantial proportions reporting never using these systems. Pharmacy management tools showed relatively higher adoption. This awareness-utilization gap is consistent with reports from pharmacy practice in developing settings, where familiarity does not consistently translate to routine integration due to external impediments. Advanced or patient-facing technologies exhibited the lowest uptake, underscoring challenges in translating knowledge to workflow application.

Areas of Application of Digital Health Technologies

DHTs were predominantly applied in documentation (88%) and inventory/stock management (80%), with moderate use in dispensing (61%), patient counseling, pharmacovigilance reporting, and drug interaction screening (around 41-43%). Teleconsultation services recorded the lowest application (35%). This preference for administrative and operational tasks aligns with evidence indicating that repetitive, backend functions are prioritized for digital adoption due to clear efficiency gains, while clinical or interactive applications lag owing to requirements for real-time engagement, infrastructure reliability, and nuanced decision-making.

Barriers to Adoption

Barriers were predominantly systemic and external, with lack of government policy/guidelines (86%), high cost of tools (78%), poor device availability (78%), limited technical/management support (74%), and unreliable internet connectivity (72%) cited most frequently as moderate to major obstacles. Lack of training (70%) and workload/time constraints (60-65%) were also notable, though resistance to change showed more variability. These findings are consistent with literature from Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, where infrastructural deficiencies, regulatory gaps, inadequate funding, and coordination challenges impede digital health integration in pharmacy and broader healthcare. Internal factors such as individual attitudes appear secondary to resource-based impediments, emphasizing the need for systemic interventions over isolated capacity building.

Overall, the results highlight that while pharmacists in Yenagoa exhibit substantial awareness of DHTs, utilization is constrained by external factors. Addressing these requires multifaceted strategies encompassing policy, infrastructure, and training to facilitate effective integration into pharmacy practice.

This study revealed that pharmacists in Yenagoa Metropolis demonstrate reasonable awareness of common digital health technologies, particularly foundational systems such as EHR/EMR and e-prescribing. However, this awareness does not uniformly translate into high utilization, especially for advanced or patient-oriented tools. Digital technologies are most frequently applied in administrative and operational areas like documentation and inventory management, whereas clinical applications such as teleconsultation remain underutilized. Barriers to adoption are largely external, encompassing infrastructural limitations, high costs, inadequate support, poor connectivity, and absence of enabling policy frameworks. These findings indicate that advancing technology-enabled pharmacy practice in resource-constrained settings demands not only enhanced individual awareness but also strengthened systemic support structures to overcome prevailing challenges.

AI - Artificial Intelligence; CDSS - Clinical Decision Support Systems; DHTs - Digital Health Technologies; EHR - Electronic Health Records; EMR - Electronic Medical Records; ICT - Information and Communication Technology