AMEGOR OSASUMWEN CALEB

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have emerged as a transformative technology in healthcare delivery, particularly for improving logistics in resourcelimited settings. Despite their potential to address delays caused by poor infrastructure and traffic congestion, their successful implementation depends largely on the awareness, knowledge, and acceptance of healthcare workers. This study therefore aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of drone use in medical facilities among hospital staff in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was adopted, involving one hundred and fifty-three (153) hospital staff comprising doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, logistics personnel, and administrators at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). Data were collected using a structured 23-item questionnaire covering demographics, awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of drone use in healthcare. Responses were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0, with Chi-square tests applied at a significance level of p < 0.05. The results showed that 65.1% of respondents had heard of drones being used in healthcare, and 65.8% were aware of their application in delivering medical supplies. However, only 9.9% had practical exposure by visiting a facility where drones were in use. A large majority (93.4%) believed that drones could improve the delivery of medical supplies in hospitals, and 73.0% supported their use for rural healthcare delivery. Furthermore, 53.3% expressed high willingness and 32.2% moderate willingness to receive training in drone technology. Despite this positive outlook, knowledge gaps were observed, as 59.8% of participants could not correctly define UAV. In conclusion, this study revealed moderate awareness but limited knowledge of drone applications in healthcare among hospital staff in Benin City. Although exposure to real-life drone operations was low, the strong willingness to receive training highlights an opportunity to promote adoption. These findings underscore the need for targeted training, policy support, and pilot projects to bridge knowledge gaps and harness drone technology for healthcare delivery in Nigeria.