The pharmacists' knowledge, attitude, and practice toward the application of radio-frequency identification in Iranian pharmacies

Background: Health care is a vitally sensitive area, in which the smallest medication error may lead to patient's loss that cannot be compensated. In this area, information technology is a useful tool for practical improvement of health-care units such as hospital and community pharmacies. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacists' knowledge, attitude, and practice in applying radio-frequency identification (RFID). Methods: This is a cross-sectional research carried out in 2016. Research population and sample included 196 pharmacists in Shiraz city, the largest metropolitan in the South of Iran. The data were collected using the researcher-made questionnaire, and its validity and reliability were confirmed. Data were analyzed using descriptive indices and Pearson's correlation in SPSS 23. Results: The results showed that the means of practice, knowledge, and attitude of the participants were 1.64 ± 0.5, 1.82 ± 0.61, and 3.62 ± 0.62 (out of 5), respectively, showing weak practice and knowledge but good attitude toward RFID technology. In addition, the majority of the pharmacists' attitude toward applying RFID technology was evaluated as positive. There was a significant relationship between the items of pharmacists' knowledge and attitude toward RFID technology (P = 0.03, r = 0.36). Conclusion: Considering the fact that the concept of technology was newly developed in health area, we concluded that the studied pharmacists were not familiar with RFID technology and its advantages and they doubted its application. Therefore, it is suggested that required instructions should be taken into consideration by health authorities for introducing and applying the technology.