Middle East Journal of Applied Science & Technology (MEJAST) Volume 8, Issue 3, Pages 24-36, July-September 2025 ISSN: 2582-0974 [24] Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Pharmacy Professionals on Artificial Intelligence: Findings and Implications in Zambia Ridge Samson Mwale 1 , Victor Daka 2 , Webrod Mufwambi 1 , Adron Mweshi Chimbala 3,4 , Boris Mwanza 5 , Martha Mwaba 6,7 , Maisa Kasanga 8 & Steward Mudenda 1,9,* 1 Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia. 2 Public Health Department, School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia. 3 Department of Pharmacy, Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. 4 Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia. 5 Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Eden University, Lusaka, Zambia. 6 Ministry of Health, Zambia, Resident Doctors Association of Zambia, Zambia. 7 Ministry of Health, Zambia, Sinazeze Mini Hospital, Sinazongwe, Zambia. 8 Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University Teaching Hospitals, Lusaka, Zambia. 9 Education and Continuous Professional Development Committee, Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia. Corresponding Author Email: steward.mudenda@unza.zm * DOI: https://doi.org/10.46431/MEJAST.2025.8302 Copyright © 2025 Ridge Samson Mwale et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Article Received: 08 May 2025 Article Accepted: 19 July 2025 Article Published: 25 July 2025 ░ 1. Background Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the intelligence demonstrated by machines or software, distinguishing it from human intelligence (Sheikh et al., 2023; Helm et al., 2020; Hamet and Tremblay, 2017). It is defined as the capability of a computer system to achieve human-like performance in cognitive tasks (Sheikh et al., 2023). As a branch of computer science, AI focuses on developing intelligent machines capable of learning, reasoning, and problem-solving (Davenport & Kalakota, 2019). The field of AI was formally established in 1956 (Russell & Norvig, 2003). Over the years, it has experienced cycles of rapid growth followed by stagnation, known as "AI winters" (Haigh, 2024a; Haigh, 2024b). AI is widely utilized across multiple sectors, including government, industry, and scientific research (Rajpurkar et al., 2022; Amisha et al., 2019). Key examples include sophisticated search engines like Google, personalized recommendation systems such as those used by Amazon and Netflix, virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, autonomous vehicles (Waymo), and creative AI applications, such as ChatGPT and AI-generated art (Russell & Norvig, 2003). AI has permeated multiple fields, from engineering to medicine, significantly impacting scientific and technological advancements (Sahu et al., 2022). It enables computers to execute tasks traditionally requiring human cognition, such as learning, language processing, perception, problem-solving, and numerical computations (Nelson et al., 2020). In healthcare, AI is transforming the community and clinical pharmacy sector ensuring ABSTRACT Technological advancements have significantly transformed human activities, evolving from manual labour from the Stone Age to modern times. The advanced automation of machines now enhances efficiency and reduces the time required for complex tasks. Despite the growing global integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, there is still a paucity of information on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding AI among pharmacy professionals in Zambia. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding AI among pharmacy personnel in Zambia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 316 pharmacy professionals in Zambia between August and September 2024. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Of the 316 participants, 108 (34.2%) were aged 20–25 years. The majority of the participants demonstrated good knowledge 202 (64.0%), 284 (90.0%) exhibited positive attitudes, and 216 (68.4%) reported good practices to AI. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between knowledge and age (p = 0.031) and between practice and gender (p = 0.002). Most pharmacy professionals in Zambia displayed good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good AI-related practices. Knowledge was significantly associated with age, while practice was influenced by gender. Despite these promising findings, there is a need to further promote AI adoption in pharmacy to enhance patient outcomes. Additionally, educational initiatives and awareness programs should be implemented to ensure pharmacy personnel fully understand AI’s role and benefits in healthcare. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Pharmacy Professionals; Knowledge; Attitudes; Practices; Healthcare Technology; Digital Health; AI Adoption; Pharmacy Education; Health Informatics; AI Awareness; Zambia.