Telepharmacy Knowledge, Attitude, And Experience Among Pharmacists in North Karnataka: A Cross-Sectional Study

The advancement of digital health technologies has significantly transformed pharmaceutical care, contributing to the rapid adoption of telepharmacy. This cross-sectional study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and experience of registered pharmacists toward telepharmacy in North Karnataka, India. A total of 150 pharmacists participated using a structured and validated questionnaire comprising demographic details and 58 items across knowledge, attitude, and experience domains. Descriptive statistics and Spearman’s correlation tests were used for analysis. Overall, pharmacists demonstrated a high level of knowledge regarding telepharmacy, particularly the need for information and communication technology (96.7%), the use of video conferencing tools (95.3%), and digital health applications (93.3%). However, knowledge related to electronic prescribing of controlled substances was comparatively lower (narcotics 65.3%, psychotropics 58.7%). Attitudes were predominantly positive, with most participants agreeing that telepharmacy improves accessibility (84%), saves time (84.5%), and enhances communication with pharmacists (83.3%). Nevertheless, concerns remained regarding the confidentiality of patient data (72.2%). Experience levels were moderate, with telephonic counselling being the most common form (53.3%), followed by messaging applications (39.3%). Engagement via video conferencing and digital health apps remained limited ( 0.05), indicating that strong conceptual understanding and positive perceptions have not yet translated into routine practice. The study highlights the need for enhanced training, curriculum integration, and supportive regulatory frameworks to strengthen telepharmacy implementation in India.