Evaluating Digital Competency among Pharmacy Students: A Study of Selected Pharmacy Institutes in India
Authors
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University Library, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya Sagar (A Central University), Sagar – 470003, Madhya Pradesh
Dayanandappa Kori -
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar – 470003, Madhya PradeshUmesh Kumar Patil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17821/srels/2024/v61i4/171280Keywords:
Challenges, Digital Literacy, Interventions, Healthcare Landscape, Pharmacy Education, Student Perceptions, Time ManagementAbstract
This study investigated digital competence among pharmacy students. A survey of 1430 pharmacy students across 25 institutes in India revealed broad agreement on the importance of digital literacy, but with challenges varying on student demographics. The study’s reliability (Cronback’s alpha=0.838) ensures consistent data. Interestingly, challenges positively impact the perceived importance of digital literacy (beta=0.364), suggesting that students who engage with digital resources value it more. Finally, the model fit (RMSEA=0.061, CFI=0.950) indicates that the model accurately reflects the data. The main challenges identified were Lack of awareness and technical assistance, with a moderate positive correlation between perceived importance and faced difficulties. By encouraging digital literacy through targeted interventions and effective time management practices, pharmacy education cannot only prepare students for success in a digitalized healthcare landscape but also pave the way for a more digitally competent future generation of pharmacists.
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