Exploring Pharmacists’ Lived Experiences in Implementing Nanoemulsion Technology in Herbal Compounding: A Phenomenological Study
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Abstract
Pharmaceutical technology has rapidly advanced in recent years, introducing innovative drug delivery systems that challenge traditional compounding practices. Within this evolving landscape, the integration of nanoemulsion technology for herbal topical preparations has emerged as a significant development in pharmacy practice, particularly in Indonesia's hospital and community pharmacy settings. However, little is known about how pharmacists experience and adapt to this innovation in these contexts. Existing research has largely focused on technical or clinical outcomes, leaving a gap in our understanding of the subjective, professional meanings pharmacists assign to adopting new technologies. This study addresses this gap by employing a phenomenological approach to explore how pharmacists perceive and make sense of implementing nanoemulsion technology in herbal compounding within these settings. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve pharmacists experienced in nanoemulsion-based herbal formulations, and data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The results reveal that pharmacists experience a dynamic process of professional transformation, balancing scientific rigor with traditional values, overcoming institutional challenges, and deriving satisfaction from positive patient outcomes. Collaborative peer interactions and adaptive learning processes directly contribute to pharmacists’ ability to negotiate tensions between innovation and tradition, which in turn facilitate improved patient care outcomes. These findings provide rich, contextualized insights that move beyond technical performance, offering a deeper understanding of the lived realities behind technological change in pharmacy. This research highlights the need to support pharmacists’ adaptation processes and suggests that future studies should further investigate how professional and cultural contexts shape the integration of advanced technologies in healthcare practice.
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