Awareness and Perceptions of Pharmacy Students Regarding ChatGPT in a sub-Saharan African Country, Zambia: Findings and Implications on the Education System

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background</bold> Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool in many sectors including healthcare education. ChatGPT is a widely used generative AI model among learners and teachers globally. In Zambia, there is no information regarding the use of ChatGPT among healthcare students. Therefore, this study assessed pharmacy students' perceptions of ChatGPT use at the University of Zambia. <bold>Methods</bold> This cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2024 to May 2024 among pharmacy students at the University of Zambia using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on the validated TAME-ChatGPT survey instrument on the determinants of attitude and usage of ChatGPT among health students. Perception of ChatGPT was assessed using four items grouped into a single variable comprising the primary study measure and dichotomized into “positive” vs. “negative” perceptions. <bold>Results</bold> A total of 385 responses were obtained, with 358 participants (93.0%) who heard of ChatGPT before the study, and 303 used ChatGPT (78.7%). In univariate analyses, the following factors were significantly associated with a positive perception of ChatGPT: low perceived risk (<italic>P</italic>=.009), low anxiety (<italic>P</italic>=.010), and a high score on technology/social influence (<italic>P</italic>&lt;.001), with the latter factor being the only influencing factor in multivariate analysis (aOR: 2.908, 95% CI: 1.752–4.825). Regarding the influencing factors for ChatGPT use, the perceived usefulness was the only significant factor (<italic>P</italic>=.013). <bold>Conclusions</bold> The study results showed the widespread use of ChatGPT among pharmacy students in Zambia highlighting its increasing role as part of the educational process. To better implement this advanced generative AI tool in healthcare education, academics and universities must take into account the role of social influence and readiness to accept technology as well as emphasizing the role of usefulness to foster the educational process.

Ähnliche Arbeiten