Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32463787›Full record

ArticleJMIR medical informatics2020

Positioning and Utilization of Information and Communication Technology in Community Pharmacies of Selangor, Malaysia: Cross-Sectional Study.

Bhuvan Kc, Dorothy Lim, Chia Chia Low, Connie Chew, Ali Qais Blebil, Juman Abdulelah Dujaili, Alian A Alrasheedy

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR medical informatics, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Bhuvan KcSchool of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9135-962X
Dorothy LimSchool of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4723-6777
Chia Chia LowSchool of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8116-6237
Connie ChewSchool of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9459-1600
Ali Qais BlebilSchool of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7480-1260
Juman Abdulelah DujailiSchool of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7515-5344
Alian A AlrasheedyUnaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3617-7425

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInformation and communication technology (ICT) is an essential element of modern "smart" cities. These smart cities have integrated housing, marketplace, public amenities, services, business, and transportation via ICT. ICT is also now widely used in urban health care delivery.

objectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the positioning and roles of ICT in community pharmacies in the state of Selangor, Malaysia.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to January 2019 across 9 different subdistricts in the state of Selangor, including Subang Jaya, Cheras, Puchong, Port Klang, Kota Kemuning, Selayang, Chow Kit, Ampang, and Seri Kembangan. A total of 90 community pharmacists were approached from the 9 subdistricts and invited to participate in the study.

resultsOf the 90 community pharmacies approached, 60 agreed to participate in the study, representing a response rate of 67%. The majority (36/60, 60%) of the respondents were women, and more than half (32/60, 53%) of the community pharmacies were run by young adults (ie, 30 years old and younger). More than three-quarters of the community pharmacies (46/60, 77%) used electronic health records. Half of the community pharmacies used online social media platforms for advertising and promoting their pharmacies. The vast majority of the community pharmacies (55/60, 92%) were using modern electronic payment systems, and some were also using other new electronic payment methods. Moreover, most of the community pharmacies (41/60, 68%) were using software and programs for accounting and logistics purposes. In addition, 47/60 (78%) of the community pharmacies used a barcode reading system for medicines/health products, and 16/60 (27%) of the pharmacies had online stores, and consumers could buy medicines and health products from these pharmacies via their online portal. In addition, 20/60 (33%) of the community pharmacies used at least one of the common online business platforms available in Southeast Asia to sell products/medicines. The telephone was the most commonly used means of communication with patients, although some pharmacies also used email, WhatsApp, SMS text messaging, and other communication platforms.

conclusionsThis study showed that the majority of community pharmacies in Selangor, Malaysia are using ICT for different purposes. However, there is still limited use of mobile apps to provide health services. Overall, community pharmacies have been adopting ICT apps for pharmacy services but the rate of adoption is relatively slower than that in other sectors of Malaysia.

Indexed as

community pharmacyinformation and communication technologyMalaysiapharmacy services

Identifiers

PMID32463787
PMCPMC7381007

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Registered trials

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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.