Medications from the Web: Use of Online Pharmacies by Emergency Department Patients

Mazer, Maryann; DeRoos, Francis; Shofer, Frances S.; Hollander, Judd E.; McCusker, Christine; Peacock, Nicholas; Perrone, Jeanmarie

doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2010.05.035

Cited by 25 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Interestingly, the number of participants with actual online medication purchase experience was not measured [49]. Mazer et al [45] found, among emergency department patients, 57% reported awareness of online pharmacies and 5.4% used the internet to order medications. Multiple medications and prescription plan significantly influenced online pharmacy use, while no difference in age or student status was observed between users and nonusers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumers Turning to the Internet Pharmacy Market: Cross-Sectional Study on the Frequency and Attitudes of Hungarian Patients Purchasing Medications Online

Fittler¹,

Vida²,

Káplár³

et al. 2018

J Med Internet Res

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BackgroundDuring the past two decades, the internet has become an accepted way to purchase products and services. Buying medications online are no exception. Besides its benefits, several patient safety risks are linked to the purchase of medicines outside the traditional supply chain. Although thousands of internet pharmacies are accessible on the web, the actual size of the market is unknown. Currently, there is limited data available on the use of internet pharmacies, the number, and attitude of people obtaining medications and other health products from the internet.ObjectiveThis study aims to gather information on the frequency and attitudes of patients purchasing medications online in a nationally representative sample of outpatients. Attitudes towards main supply chain channels, perceived benefits, and disadvantages of influencing online medication purchase are evaluated.MethodsA cross-sectional explorative study using a personally administered survey was conducted in a representative sample of Hungarian outpatients in 2018.ResultsA total of 1055 outpatients completed the survey (response rate 77.23%). The mean age was 45 years, and 456 (43.22%) reported having chronic health conditions. The majority (872/1055, 82.65%) of the respondents were aware that medications could be obtained online, but only 44 (4.17%) used the internet for previous medication purchases. Attitudes towards the different pharmaceutical supply chain retail channels showed significant differences (P<.001), respondents accepted retail pharmacy units as the most appropriate source of medications while rejected internet pharmacies. Respondents were asked to evaluate 9 statements regarding the potential benefits and disadvantages about the online medicine purchase, and based on the computed relative attitude rate there is a weak still significant tendency toward rejection (P<.001). Correspondence of demographic factors, internet usage behavior, and prospective online drug purchase attitude was evaluated. Respondents who use the internet more and purchase goods online will be more likely to buy medications online. Furthermore, youth and education will determine the medication purchase behavior.ConclusionsMany patients will purchase medications on the internet in the future. Currently, there is an increased risk of patients buying products from illegal sites because these dominate the global online pharmacy market. Consequently, improved patient-provider communication and promotion campaigns are needed to inform the public about the safe use of internet pharmacies, as these initiatives can directly prevent patient safety threats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumers Turning to the Internet Pharmacy Market: Cross-Sectional Study on the Frequency and Attitudes of Hungarian Patients Purchasing Medications Online

Fittler¹,

Vida²,

Káplár³

et al. 2018

J Med Internet Res

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“…Thus, patients can purchase pharmaceuticals from remote countries, even within a relatively short period of time. Convenience is one of the most regularly communicated benefit17 as there is no need to visit a medical doctor or go to a local pharmacy. The advantages and potential disadvantages of obtaining medicines from internet pharmacies are summarised in table 1.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behaviour analysis of patients who purchase medicines on the internet: can hospital pharmacists facilitate online medication safety?

et al. 2012

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Background Although there are numerous legal and regulated online pharmacies available on the internet, an abundance of illegitimate online pharmacies are offering medications without prescriptions and deliver products with unknown origins worldwide. Despite the fact that the problem has gained the attention of regulatory and health organisations, the awareness of patients and many healthcare professionals is relatively low. Objectives The purpose of this work is to assess the current situation of ordering medicines online, to survey the attitude of patients regarding online drug purchase, promoting the completion of the medication history worksheet and to recommend useful tools for hospital pharmacists to facilitate online medication safety. Methods The attitude of 422 patients regarding purchasing drugs online was evaluated in a hospital environment. Results 8.4% of Hungarian hospital patients have ordered drugs or dietary supplements online and 3.7% of the respondents are considering this option in the future. Most hospital patients (82.8%) are unaware of the quality of these products. Conclusions Patients are not fully aware of the risks of potential hazards associated with purchasing medicines online and presumably cannot differentiate between legal and illegal online pharmacies. Illegal and counterfeit medicines pose a serious public health risk because the origin and quality of these drugs are uncertain and patients typically take these preparations without the knowledge and supervision of physicians or pharmacists. Pharmacists can play an essential role in protecting patient safety and combating counterfeit medicines.

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“…13 Nevertheless, shortage situations have led to providers purchasing from suspect Internet sources, and at least 2.9% to 13% of patients have admitted to buying drugs online, despite global public health warnings. 14,15 These vendors may promote purchases without a prescription and represent a significant patient safety risk, given the high prevalence of counterfeit medicines 13 and the complex nature of cancer biologics, which are sensitive to transport and storage, even assuming authenticity.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Oncology and the Internet: Regulatory Failure and Reform

Mackey

Liang²

2012

JOP

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Medications from the Web: Use of Online Pharmacies by Emergency Department Patients

Cited by 25 publications

References 5 publications

Consumers Turning to the Internet Pharmacy Market: Cross-Sectional Study on the Frequency and Attitudes of Hungarian Patients Purchasing Medications Online

Consumers Turning to the Internet Pharmacy Market: Cross-Sectional Study on the Frequency and Attitudes of Hungarian Patients Purchasing Medications Online

Behaviour analysis of patients who purchase medicines on the internet: can hospital pharmacists facilitate online medication safety?

Oncology and the Internet: Regulatory Failure and Reform

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