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Self-reported digital literacy of the pharmacy workforce in North East Scotland.

MacLure, Katie; Stewart, Derek

Authors

Katie MacLure

Derek Stewart



Abstract

In their day-to-day practice, pharmacists, graduate (pre-registration) pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, dispensing assistants and medicines counter assistants use widely available office, retail and management information systems alongside dedicated pharmacy management and electronic health (ehealth) applications. The ability of pharmacy staff to use these applications at home and at work, also known as digital literacy or digital competence or e-skills, depends on personal experience and related education and training. The aim of this research was to gain insight into the self-reported digital literacy of the pharmacy workforce in the North East of Scotland. A purposive case sample survey was conducted across NHS Grampian in the NE of Scotland. Data collection was based on five items: sex, age band, role, pharmacy experience plus a final question about self-reported digital literacy. The study was conducted between August 2012 and March 2013 in 17 community and two hospital pharmacies. With few exceptions, pharmacy staff perceived their own digital literacy to be at a basic level. Secondary outcome measures of role, age, gender and work experience were not found to be clear determinants of digital literacy. Pharmacy staff need to be more digitally literate to harness technologies in pharmacy practice more effectively and efficiently.

Citation

MACLURE, K. and STEWART, D. 2015. Self-reported digital literacy of the pharmacy workforce in North East Scotland. Pharmacy [online], 3(4), pages 182-196. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy3040182

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 30, 2015
Online Publication Date Oct 15, 2015
Publication Date Dec 31, 2015
Deposit Date Sep 9, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Pharmacy
Electronic ISSN 2226-4787
Publisher MDPI
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 3
Issue 4
Pages 182-196
DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy3040182
Keywords Digital literacy; Pharmacy workforce; Pharmacy technology; EHealth; Change management; Scotland
Public URL http://hdl.handle.net/10059/1643

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