Readiness, perceptions, and challenges of pharmaceutical e-labelling implementation among healthcare professionals in Malaysia

Abstract

Electronic labelling (e-labelling) offers a digital alternative to conventional printed package inserts, disseminating up-to-date pharmaceutical information via Quick Response (QR) codes. While e-labelling addresses key limitations of paper-based systems, including space constraints, delayed safety updates, and environmental waste, its adoption in Malaysia remains in an early, voluntary phase. This study aimed to assess the baseline awareness, perceptions, challenges, and readiness of Malaysian healthcare professionals (HCPs) toward e-labelling implementation, and to gather practical recommendations for integration into clinical workflows. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between October 2024 and July 2025 using a validated bilingual questionnaire (English and Malay). A stratified purposive sampling approach was employed across public and private healthcare facilities in all Malaysian states. Inferential analyses included Chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). A total of 309 HCPs participated, comprising predominantly pharmacists (71.5%), followed by doctors (12.3%) and nurses (9.4%). Baseline familiarity with e-labelling was low (37.9%), with only 22.0% reporting prior practical exposure. Despite this, willingness to adopt was high (~ 81.6%): 48.9% were “definitely” willing and 32.7% were willing with some reservations. A significant association was observed between clinical experience and willingness to adopt (χ² = 11.53, p < 0.01). Perceived benefits were grouped into a single reliable construct (Cronbach’s α = 0.864), with pharmacists rating environmental benefits significantly higher than other professional groups (F(2, 306) = 4.91, p = 0.012). A “Technical Concerns” construct (Cronbach’s α = 0.846) captured primary barriers: patient resistance to technology (66.1%), technological barriers among HCPs (47.4%), and data reliability concerns (45.4%). Despite limited awareness and prior exposure, Malaysian HCPs in this predominantly pharmacist sample demonstrate strong willingness to adopt e-labelling and perceive its potential to improve information accessibility and reduce environmental impact. Findings suggest that successful implementation will require targeted digital training, offline access capabilities, multilingual support, and standardized regulatory frameworks. These findings provide a baseline for informing future implementation strategies rather than confirming implementation effects. Not applicable.