ChatGPT: Pharmacy students' perceptions, current use trends, ethical awareness, standards of ethics, prospects and recommendations for future use

Area of Science:

• * Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy Education
• * Digital Health Literacy

Background:

• * OpenAI's ChatGPT represents a significant advancement in information access across disciplines.
• * The study investigates the integration and ethical considerations of ChatGPT among pharmacy students.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To assess pharmacy students' awareness, perception, and literacy regarding ChatGPT.
• * To evaluate the perceived appropriateness and ethical concerns of ChatGPT use in pharmacy.
• * To identify educational gaps and provide recommendations for responsible ChatGPT integration.

Main Methods:

• * A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 413 pharmacy students in Saudi Arabia during the 2023-2024 academic year.
• * An online questionnaire assessed awareness, usage, perceptions, and ethical considerations of ChatGPT.
• * Participants were grouped based on ChatGPT awareness levels for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• * A significant majority (62.55%) of pharmacy students lacked awareness of ChatGPT's concepts and usage.
• * Only 57.7% found ChatGPT responses appropriate for pharmacy issues, with 52.3% expressing concerns.
• * Despite concerns, 78.0% believed ChatGPT could benefit pharmacy education, yet only a small fraction demonstrated correct ethical application awareness (1.2% problematic, 2.7% appropriate).

Conclusions:

• * There is a critical need for enhanced education and training on the ethical and appropriate use of ChatGPT in pharmacy.
• * Addressing educational gaps is imperative for fostering responsible AI adoption and maximizing benefits in pharmacy practice and education.
• * Developing clear guidelines for ethical ChatGPT application is essential for pharmacy students and professionals.