Pharmacy in the Digital Age: Exploring Adults' Trust, Awareness, and Adoption of Technology-Driven Services

Abstract

This quantitative study examines the determinants of awareness and trust of digital pharmacy services and adoption by adults, with the goal of understanding how demographic, behavioural and technological variables shape consumers’ engagement with technology-based pharmaceutical care. The research had three major objectives to focus on. In order to study the factors that affect the awareness of digital pharmacy services, the role of trust in the adoption of these services and the barriers and facilitators that affect the uptake of these services. Data on a sample size of 143 people of different age groups and educational backgrounds, with a significant concentration in the 18–34 age group, was collected using a structured survey distributed online. The study used descriptive and regression analysis to determine the extent to which digital literacy, internet access, health literacy, and demographic traits influence awareness and adoption behaviours. Based on the findings, trust is the highest determinant of adoption whereby adoption is likely to occur when users believe in high levels of data privacy, security, and service reliability. Awareness also surfaced as a significant factor, though secondary to trust, better-informed users were shown to be more engaged. Those who are younger and more digitally as well as health literate were more likely to use digital pharmacy services, while the older adults and those with fewer digital skills were more resistant as a result of the concerns about usability and security. Lack of information, digital inaccessibility, and preference for traditional in person interactions were impediments more common in low income and elderly groups. While hypotheses on digital literacy and trust were directly strengthened by statistical evidence, health literacy and age relations were mostly inferred from descriptive insights. Overall, the study finds that digital pharmacy services can only be successfully implemented if user trust is improved, public awareness increased, and digital inequalities addressed, especially among the underserved populations. These results have essential implications for policymakers, healthcare providers and developers of digital health to expand reach and equity of digital pharmacy solutions.