MCQ Quiz: Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy Practice

Term “Artificial Intelligence” is not explicitly listed as a module in your syllabus, it represents the next evolution of the “Health Information and Informatics” and “Automated Systems” topics that are covered in your curriculum “. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformative force in healthcare with significant potential to enhance pharmacy practice. This quiz will explore the current and future applications of AI in pharmacy, from clinical decision support to personalized medicine, as well as the ethical considerations and the evolving role of the pharmacist.

1. In the context of pharmacy, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is best described as:

• a. A physical robot that dispenses medications.
• b. The use of computer systems to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as decision-making and pattern recognition.
• c. The hospital’s electronic health record (EHR) system itself.
• d. A secure messaging platform for healthcare providers.

Answer: b. The use of the computer systems to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as decision-making and pattern recognition.

2. A primary application of AI in health informatics is to enhance:

• a. The physical storage of paper records.
• b. Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) by identifying complex patterns and predicting risks.
• c. The hospital’s billing department.
• d. The compounding of sterile products.

Answer: b. Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) by identifying complex patterns and predicting risks.

3. The principle of “Garbage In, Garbage Out” is critical in AI. It means that:

• a. AI can function perfectly even with poor quality data.
• b. An AI model trained on biased or inaccurate data will produce biased or inaccurate results.
• c. All data used in healthcare is considered “garbage”.
• d. The AI system automatically cleans all incoming data.

Answer: b. An AI model trained on biased or inaccurate data will produce biased or inaccurate results.

4. A pharmacist using an AI-powered tool to predict which patients are at highest risk of medication non-adherence is an example of using AI for:

• a. Drug discovery
• b. Personalized medicine
• c. Population health management
• d. Compounding

Answer: c. Population health management

5. Which of the following is a potential use for AI in a hospital pharmacy’s operations?

• a. Predicting drug shortages.
• b. Optimizing inventory management in automated dispensing cabinets.
• c. Identifying potential cases of drug diversion.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

6. The “Health information and informatics (HIT in Inpatient Settings)” is a specific learning module in which course?

• a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
• b. PHA5104 Sterile Compounding
• c. PHA5703 Pharmacy Law and Ethics
• d. PHA5784C Patient Care 4

Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5

7. A significant ethical challenge in using AI in healthcare is the “black box” problem, which refers to:

• a. The difficulty in understanding how a complex AI model arrived at a specific recommendation.
• b. The physical color of the computer servers.
• c. The system’s inability to store data.
• d. The high cost of the software.

Answer: a. The difficulty in understanding how a complex AI model arrived at a specific recommendation.

8. In drug discovery, machine learning models can be used to:

• a. Synthesize new drug molecules in the lab.
• b. Analyze vast datasets to identify potential drug targets and predict the efficacy of new compounds.
• c. Conduct clinical trials on human subjects.
• d. Market the final drug product.

Answer: b. Analyze vast datasets to identify potential drug targets and predict the efficacy of new compounds.

9. The pharmacist’s role in the age of AI will likely shift more towards:

• a. Manual data entry and dispensing.
• b. Performing complex clinical reasoning, providing empathy, and validating AI-generated recommendations.
• c. IT support and software development.
• d. The pharmacist’s role will be eliminated.

Answer: b. Performing complex clinical reasoning, providing empathy, and validating AI-generated recommendations.

10. An AI algorithm analyzes a patient’s genetic profile, lab values, and lifestyle factors to recommend a specific starting dose of warfarin. This is an application of AI in:

• a. Drug discovery
• b. Public health surveillance
• c. Personalized medicine
• d. Inventory management

Answer: c. Personalized medicine

11. Identifying how automated systems assist in decreasing medication errors is a key objective for pharmacy students.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

12. What is a major risk of using AI models trained on data from one demographic group and applying them to another?

• a. The model will work better for the new group.
• b. It can perpetuate and even worsen existing health disparities.
• c. It has no impact on outcomes.
• d. It is a violation of HIPAA.

Answer: b. It can perpetuate and even worsen existing health disparities.

13. A “smart” infusion pump that uses an AI algorithm to predict a patient’s response to an insulin drip is an example of:

• a. A basic automated dispensing cabinet.
• b. An advanced clinical decision support tool.
• c. A compounding device.
• d. A patient-controlled analgesia pump.

Answer: b. An advanced clinical decision support tool.

14. A key role for pharmacists on a health informatics team is to:

• a. Provide the clinical context and knowledge needed to build and validate medication-related AI tools.
• b. Write all the computer code.
• c. Install the computer hardware.
• d. Manage the hospital’s budget.

Answer: a. Provide the clinical context and knowledge needed to build and validate medication-related AI tools.

15. Utilizing an EHR to collect relevant information is a core skill that provides the data for AI systems.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

16. Which of the following is NOT a potential benefit of AI in pharmacy practice?

• a. Automating repetitive tasks.
• b. Identifying patients at high risk for adverse drug events.
• c. Eliminating the need for a pharmacist’s clinical judgment.
• d. Optimizing complex medication regimens.

Answer: c. Eliminating the need for a pharmacist’s clinical judgment.

17. “Machine learning” is a subset of AI where systems:

• a. Are explicitly programmed with every possible rule.
• b. Can automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed.
• c. Are only used for playing games.
• d. Do not require data to function.

Answer: b. Can automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed.

18. An AI system that reviews millions of EHR records to find a previously unknown association between a drug and a rare side effect is performing:

• a. A prospective clinical trial.
• b. A type of pharmacoepidemiologic analysis.
• c. A marketing survey.
• d. A patient satisfaction review.

Answer: b. A type of pharmacoepidemiologic analysis.

19. The regulation of AI software as a medical device is overseen by which agency?

• a. The DEA
• b. The FDA
• c. The CDC
• d. The National Board of Pharmacy

Answer: b. The FDA

20. An active learning session on health informatics is part of the Patient Care 5 course.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

21. A pharmacist is presented with an AI-generated recommendation to switch a patient’s therapy. What is the most appropriate first step?

• a. Accept the recommendation without question.
• b. Reject the recommendation immediately.
• c. Critically evaluate the recommendation in the context of the individual patient’s full clinical picture.
• d. Ask the patient if they agree with the AI.

Answer: c. Critically evaluate the recommendation in the context of the individual patient’s full clinical picture.

22. A significant barrier to the implementation of AI in healthcare is:

• a. The lack of available data.
• b. The cost of development and integration.
• c. The simplicity of medical decision-making.
• d. The fact that AI never makes mistakes.

Answer: b. The cost of development and integration.

23. The principles of evidence-based practice apply to evaluating AI-driven recommendations.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

24. An active learning session on medication safety is part of which course?

• a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
• b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
• c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
• d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2

Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5

25. A pharmacist providing accurate and structured documentation in the EHR helps to:

• a. Train and improve the performance of future AI models.
• b. Make the AI less accurate.
• c. Slow down the entire hospital system.
• d. Violate patient privacy.

Answer: a. Train and improve the performance of future AI models.

26. Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a type of AI that can help in pharmacy by:

• a. Compounding medications.
• b. Extracting useful, structured information from unstructured free-text notes.
• c. Administering injections.
• d. Calculating drug prices.

Answer: b. Extracting useful, structured information from unstructured free-text notes.

27. Patient privacy and data security are major ethical concerns in the development and use of healthcare AI.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

28. An active learning session on health informatics is part of which course module?

• a. Module 4: Medication Safety
• b. Module 1: Diabetes Mellitus
• c. Module 3: Women’s Health
• d. Module 8: Men’s Health

Answer: a. Module 4: Medication Safety

29. An AI-powered “digital twin” of a patient could be used in the future to:

• a. Replace the need for the actual patient.
• b. Simulate how a patient might respond to different drug therapies before they are administered.
• c. Bill the patient twice.
• d. Chat with the patient’s family.

Answer: b. Simulate how a patient might respond to different drug therapies before they are administered.

30. The “HIT in the Hospital” lecture is within the Patient Care 5 curriculum.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

31. The most important human factor that AI cannot replicate in patient care is:

• a. Calculation
• b. Pattern recognition
• c. Empathy and rapport-building
• d. Data processing

Answer: c. Empathy and rapport-building

32. The “pharmacist’s professional judgment” will become less important with the rise of AI.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: b. False

33. An AI tool that analyzes a patient’s insurance formulary and medication list to suggest the most cost-effective, clinically appropriate alternative is an example of AI in:

• a. Clinical trial design
• b. Medication therapy management (MTM)
• c. Drug discovery
• d. Sterile compounding

Answer: b. Medication therapy management (MTM)

34. The “garbage in, garbage out” principle highlights the critical need for what in healthcare AI?

• a. Faster computers
• b. More complex algorithms
• c. High-quality, representative data
• d. More user alerts

Answer: c. High-quality, representative data

35. A pharmacist should view AI as a(n):

• a. Replacement for their job.
• b. Threat to their professional autonomy.
• c. Powerful tool to augment their clinical skills and improve patient care.
• d. Infallible source of information.

Answer: c. Powerful tool to augment their clinical skills and improve patient care.

36. A key challenge for AI in interpreting EHR data is understanding:

• a. The patient’s date of birth.
• b. The context and nuance of a physician’s free-text note.
• c. The patient’s medication list.
• d. The patient’s lab values.

Answer: b. The context and nuance of a physician’s free-text note.

37. The FDA has a framework for regulating “Software as a Medical Device” (SaMD).

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

38. The lecture on Health Information and Informatics is part of which course?

• a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
• b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
• c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
• d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2

Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5

39. AI can help prevent medication errors by:

• a. Identifying high-risk patients who need closer monitoring.
• b. Powering more intelligent clinical decision support alerts.
• c. Analyzing prescribing patterns to detect potential outliers.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

40. An active learning session covering health informatics is part of which course?

• a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
• b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
• c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
• d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2

Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5

41. The use of AI in pharmacy is limited to the inpatient hospital setting.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: b. False

42. A community pharmacy using an AI-powered system to manage inventory and predict seasonal demand for flu shots is using AI for:

• a. Clinical decision support
• b. Operations management
• c. Patient counseling
• d. Drug compounding

Answer: b. Operations management

43. A pharmacist’s ability to critically appraise evidence is a skill that is:

• a. Obsolete due to AI.
• b. Essential for evaluating the validity of AI-generated recommendations.
• c. Only useful for reading journals.
• d. Not taught in pharmacy school.

Answer: b. Essential for evaluating the validity of AI-generated recommendations.

44. What is a key ethical consideration for healthcare AI?

• a. Ensuring equity and fairness in algorithms.
• b. Transparency in how decisions are made.
• c. Accountability for errors.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

45. Which of the following tasks is LEAST likely to be automated by AI in the near future?

• a. Checking for routine drug interactions.
• b. Counting pills.
• c. Having an empathetic conversation with a patient about their goals of care.
• d. Flagging a dose that is outside the normal range.

Answer: c. Having an empathetic conversation with a patient about their goals of care.

46. A “learning health system” is one that:

• a. Uses RWD and AI to continuously learn from patient care and improve future outcomes.
• b. Is a part of a university.
• c. Only uses paper charts.
• d. Does not use clinical decision support.

Answer: a. Uses RWD and AI to continuously learn from patient care and improve future outcomes.

47. The “Automated Systems” objective is part of the HIPPE curriculum.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

48. An active learning session on medication safety is part of which course module?

• a. Module 4: Medication Safety
• b. Module 1: Diabetes Mellitus
• c. Module 3: Women’s Health
• d. Module 8: Men’s Health

Answer: a. Module 4: Medication Safety

49. The overall future role of the pharmacist with AI is likely to be:

• a. A data entry clerk.
• b. A clinical expert who works collaboratively with AI tools.
• c. Obsolete.
• d. An AI software developer.

Answer: b. A clinical expert who works collaboratively with AI tools.

50. The ultimate goal of integrating AI into pharmacy practice is to:

• a. Reduce the number of pharmacists needed.
• b. Improve the efficiency, safety, and personalization of patient care.
• c. Make healthcare more technologically complex.
• d. Replace the need for human interaction.

Answer: b. Improve the efficiency, safety, and personalization of patient care.