ReviewCureus2025
Online Pharmacy Adoption and Consumer Perception: A Systematic Review of Existing Literature.
Review in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Online pharmacy, also known as e-pharmacy, is an online platform that enables customers to buy medicinal products and services, ensuring convenient delivery to their homes in a short timeframe. The adoption of online pharmacies has increased significantly in recent years, primarily driven by lower prices offered by online pharmacies, the absence of specific medications in conventional markets, and the convenience aspects, such as the ease of access and decreased reliance on physical pharmacy visits. This review paper aimed to thoroughly explore the existing literature regarding online pharmacies, with particular attention to three key areas delineated in the current literature. These areas encompass the following: types of online pharmacy business models; consumer characteristics; and consumers' attitudes and perceptions toward online pharmacies. The research methodology included a comprehensive literature search on online pharmacies from January 2020 to mid-January 2024 using SCOPUS, PubMed, and Web of Science. Studies published in English within the defined timeframe were considered for inclusion, whereas those focusing on other than consumers' perceptions and attitudes or not presenting full-length content were excluded. The preliminary search identified more than 1,700 articles, which were then systematically filtered down to 24 articles selected for final review. This review analysis suggests that women are frequent online pharmacy customers, with awareness levels varying across genders and demographics. Middle-aged individuals, particularly between 35 and 74, show a strong inclination toward online medication purchases, driven by urbanization and internet access. Education and income also influence consumer behavior, albeit to varying degrees across regions and products. Convenience, discounts, and product availability emerge as primary drivers for online pharmacy adoption, with factors like home delivery and 24/7 accessibility enhancing convenience. Trust remains pivotal, with offline pharmacies favored for reliability due to perceived risks. Recent studies spotlight consumer priorities such as logistics and pricing, highlighting areas for online pharmacy service enhancement. In conclusion, this systematic exploration of consumers' attitudes and perceptions toward online pharmacies reveals a dynamic landscape influenced by technological advancements and changing consumer behaviors.
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What OpenQuestion holds
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.