Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41615
Title: Use of internet pharmacies by the public
Authors: Gatt Baldacchino, Elaine
Zarb Adami, Maurice
Keywords: Internet pharmacies -- Case studies -- Malta
Pharmaceutical policy -- Malta
Pharmacist and patient -- Malta
Issue Date: 2016
Publisher: University of Malta. Department of Pharmacy & The Malta Pharmaceutical Association
Citation: Gatt Baldacchino, E., & Zarb Adami, M. (2016). Use of internet pharmacies by the public. Journal of Euromed Pharmacy, 06, 20-23.
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to observe the number of Maltese patients who purchase medicines over the internet, to evaluate how well-informed the public, doctors and pharmacists are when selecting a legal internet pharmacy and to appraise the awareness of doctors and pharmacists on the possibility of their patients using the internet to purchase medicines that may cause adverse effects or drug interactions with the medications they themselves may dispense or prescribe. METHOD: A self-administered questionnaire was devised following an adaptation of another questionnaire entitled ‘The Use of Online Pharmacies by British Colombia Residents’ carried out by the British Columbia Centre for Social Responsibility in 2009.1 This questionnaire was distributed to members of the general public. Two other questionnaires were designed and distributed to pharmacists working in community pharmacies and physicians. Data obtained from these studies was analysed using SPSS® version 22. KEY FINDINGS: Nine hundred and seventeen participants took part in this study. Ninety seven per cent (n=888) revealed that they purchased products over the internet and 5.1% (n=47) purchased medicines online. From the 915 participants who answered a question regarding the safety of internet pharmacies, 79.9% (n=731) felt that internet pharmacies were not as safe as local community pharmacies. Nineteen of the 47 participants who ordered medicines online were willing to self-diagnose their medical condition and 3 of the 43 participants mentioned that they had suffered from side-effects following the use of medicines purchased over the internet. Fifty-three per cent of both pharmacists and doctors agreed that patients should be given the opportunity to purchase medicines over the internet if the source was reliable. CONCLUSION: Maltese patients need to be educated on how to choose a legal internet pharmacy. Purchasing from sites that promote self-diagnosis or provide prescriptiononly medicines (POMs) without a prescription should be discouraged. The importance of educational campaigns to increase awareness among healthcare professionals was also identified.
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/41615
Appears in Collections:Journal of Euromed Pharmacy : issue 06 : 2016
Journal of Euromed Pharmacy : issue 06 : 2016

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