ArticleSaudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society2017
The extent of use of online pharmacies in Saudi Arabia.
Article in Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers.
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Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 49 citations in OpenAlex.
- A cross-sectional study assessing customers' perception, satisfaction, and attitude toward e-pharmacy services in Saudi Arabia.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Vietnamese people's behavior and future intention to purchase medicines and functional foods on the internet: a cross-sectional study.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Purchasing medicines and functional foods on the internet: a cross-sectional study investigating the knowledge, attitudes, and experience of Vietnamese people in 2023.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Overview of online pharmacy regulations in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf cooperation council countries and their impact on online pharmacy service providers in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative analysis.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2024Article
- The characteristics and operations of "online pharmacies" investigated in relation to medicines popularised during the coronavirus pandemic: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2024Article
- What influences consumers' online medication purchase intentions and behavior? A scoping review.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2024Article
- Practices, perceptions and trust of the public regarding online drug purchasing: a web-based survey from Jordan.BMJ open · 2023Article
- Public awareness of online pharmacies, consumers' motivating factors, experience and satisfaction with online pharmacy services, and current barriers and motivators for non-consumers: The case of Saudi Arabia.Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society · 2023Article
- Illicit Online Pharmacies: A Scoping Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- News Media Coverage of the Problem of Purchasing Fake Prescription Medicines on the Internet: Thematic Analysis.JMIR formative research · 2023Article
- Reasons That Lead People to End Up Buying Fake Medicines on the Internet: Qualitative Interview Study.JMIR formative research · 2023Article
- Analysis of Japanese consumers' attitudes toward the digital transformation of OTC medicine purchase behavior and eHealth literacy: an online survey for digital experience design.Frontiers in digital health · 2023Article
- Reasons that lead people to buy prescription medicines on the internet: a systematic review.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2023Review
- The implications of internet-based Chinese language courses on online classes.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Article
- The modern Russian pharmaceutical market: consumer attitudes towards distance retailing of medicines.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- Attitudes and behaviors regarding online pharmacies in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic: At the tipping point towards the new normal.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2022Article
- Trends and Characteristics of the US Adult Population's Behavioral Patterns in Web-Based Prescription Filling: National Survey Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Article
- Evaluating the frequency, consumers' motivation and perception of online medicinal, herbal, and health products purchase safety in Saudi Arabia.Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society · 2021Article
- The Voice of Drug Consumers: Online Textual Review Analysis Using Structural Topic Model.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- Consumer and Community Pharmacists' Perceptions of Online Pharmacy Services in Uyo Metropolis, Nigeria.Innovations in pharmacy · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeOnline pharmacies sell medicine over the Internet and deliver them by mail. The main objective of this study is to explore the extent of use of online pharmacies in Saudi Arabia which will be useful for the scientific community and regulators.
methodsAn Arabic survey questionnaire was developed for this study. The questionnaire was distributed via email and social media. Four sections were created to cover the objectives: experience with online shopping in general, demographics, awareness of the existence and customer experiences of buying medicine online, and reasons for buying/not buying medicine online.
resultsA total of 633 responses were collected. Around 69% (437) of them were female and the majority (256, 40.4%) was in the age range 26-40. Only 23.1% (146) were aware of the existence of online pharmacies where 2.7% (17) of them had bought a medicine over the Internet and 15 (88.2%) respondents out of the 17 was satisfied with the process. Lack of awareness of the availability of such services was the main reason for not buying medicines online. Many respondents (263, 42.7%) were willing to try an online pharmacy, although majorities (243, 45.9%) were unable to differentiate between legal and illegal online pharmacies. The largest categories of products respondents were willing to buy them online were nonprescription medicines and cosmetics.
conclusionThe popularity of purchasing medicines over the Internet is still low in Saudi Arabia. However, because the majority of respondents are willing to purchase medicines online, efforts should be made by the Saudi FDA to set regulations and monitor this activity.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.