Abstract

A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON AWARENESS AND ACCEPTABILITY OF ONLINE PHARMACY SERVICES AMONG INTERNET USERS OF RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA

Syed Mohammed Basheeruddin Asdaq*, Shereen N. Al Laham, Morehan F. Alshammary, Rasha F. Alharbi and Sara A. Alfagih

ABSTRACT

Background: Recent discoveries across Europe and other countries demonstrate a significant decline in illicit or unlawful online pharmacy services, a fresh consideration with stringent regulations to open online pharmacy in Saudi Arabia is the need of the hour. Objectives: The objective of the current study was to elucidate the awareness and acceptability of online pharmacy services by internet users of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: The data in the present study was obtained from the self-administered electronic questionnaire-based survey. Only residents of Riyadh with an age between 18 to 65 years and have internet access were included in the study. We administered questionnaire randomly from 26/03/2016 to 06/04/2016016 through social media networks. Results: A total of 567 respondents completed our questionnaire. Most of the respondents of the study, women (81%) and men (77%), agreed that they shop online for goods other than drugs. So it was not new for them to shop online. They were excited about the idea of buying medicines online with an exorbitant number were ready to buy medicines online if it is made available (71 and 64% in women and men respectively Conclusion: The internet users of Riyadh prefer online pharmacy services due to ease of getting medicines with direct supervision of qualified pharmacist who will also help them in checking drug interaction, possible adverse effects and method of administration without getting exposed to the traffic of urban areas. This shows a greater acceptability among internet users for online pharmacy services.

Keywords: Acceptability; Awareness; Internet; Online Pharmacy; Riyadh; Saudi Arabia.