Using the advantages and avoiding the risks - a public survey about the challenges of online purchases of medicines.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Around 95% of all websites selling medicines globally are illegal and contribute to the spread of substandard and falsified medicines. Hence, it is important to identify legal pharmacies when accessing medicines online. During 2022-2024, 250 million prescriptions were legally dispensed in Sweden, and 69% were prescribed in primary care. Pharmacists and general practitioners are key healthcare professionals who can guide people to safe online purchases. The overall aim was to describe Swedes' online purchasing habits for medicines.

Methods

We used a cross-sectional design and collected information from the general population through an annual digital questionnaire for three years in a row, 2022-2024. In total, 6006 respondents, 18-79 years old, were included.

Re

SUBMITTER: Persson A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12918266 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature