Internet Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy Services in Western China
Author Information
Author(s): Gao Yangyang, Lv You, Wang Shiyan, Guo Mengran, Guo Yi, Zheng Minglin, He Lulu, Wu Fengbo, Fan Ping
Primary Institution: West China Hospital, Sichuan University
Hypothesis
This study aimed to reveal the comprehensive characteristics and safety of whole-course-based Internet Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy Services (IHOPSs) in a general tertiary hospital in western China.
Conclusion
The IHOPS was found to be efficient, convenient, and safe, providing patients with timely medication delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporting Evidence
- IHOPSs saved patients more than 320,376 days and RMB ¥94.05 million in costs.
- The error rates of prescription review and dispensing were 0.0011% and 0.0008%, respectively.
- 90.15% of delivered prescriptions were sent to Sichuan.
- 95.96% of surveyed patients rated their satisfaction with the service as 5 out of 5.
Takeaway
This study shows that an online pharmacy service can help people get their medicines safely and quickly, especially during tough times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methodology
A descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted analyzing 373,936 online prescriptions over three years.
Potential Biases
Higher risks to data confidentiality and integrity due to the online nature of the service.
Limitations
The study did not include costs of accommodation and food, potentially underestimating the economic value of the IHOPS.
Participant Demographics
The largest group of patients was aged between 36 and 59 years, with a total of 351,884 patients, including 43.46% male and 56.54% female.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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