Perception, Barriers, and Willingness to Implement Telepharmacy Among Pharmacists in Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Telepharmacy, a branch of telemedicine, enables remote pharmaceutical services such as medication counseling and drug monitoring. However, the readiness of pharmacists to adopt telepharmacy remains uncertain, particularly in regions like Palestine where no prior studies have explored this topic. Aims: This study evaluated Palestinian pharmacists’ perceptions, barriers, and willingness to implement telepharmacy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 375 pharmacists in the West Bank, Palestine, using the convenience sampling method. A validated online questionnaire assessed pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and barriers toward telepharmacy, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.75 to 0.81, indicating good reliability. The tool demonstrated strong reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha scores of 0.81 (willingness), 0.77 (attitudes), and 0.75 (barriers). Convenience sampling was employed to recruit participants from northern, central, and southern regions, ensuring geographic representation. The questionnaire comprised four sections: demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and barriers. Results: Among participants, only 36.5% were aware of telepharmacy and 39.7% had poor knowledge, but 57.8% showed high willingness to implement telepharmacy, particularly for patient counseling (82.5%) and provider communication (83.2%). The most frequently used communication tool was WhatsApp (79%), followed by phone calls (68%). Major barriers included low health literacy (78.9%), poor internet access (74.5%), and high operational costs (74.4%). Key barriers included limited health literacy (78.9%), unreliable internet access (74.5%), and high costs (74.4%). Regression analysis revealed that higher education (OR = 2.1; p < 0.001) and female gender (OR = 1.68; p < 0.001) were associated with greater willingness. Conclusion: While Palestinian pharmacists are receptive to telepharmacy, significant barriers hinder adoption. Addressing these challenges requires targeted training, infrastructure investment, and policy support. This study fills a critical gap in the literature, as no prior research has examined telepharmacy readiness in Palestine.