%0 Journal Article
%@ 1438-8871
%I Gunther Eysenbach
%V 6
%N 1
%P e9
%T Swiss Community Pharmacies' on the Web and Pharmacists' Experiences with E-commerce: Longitudinal study and Internet-based questionnaire survey
%A Zehnder,Simon
%A Bruppacher,Rudolf
%A Ruppanner,Hans
%A Hersberger,Kurt E
%+ Institute for Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacenter, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland, +0041 61 267 14 26, szehnder@datacomm.ch
%K Web site
%K community pharmacies
%K professional-patient relations
%K quality of health care
%K e-commerce
%K e-pharmacies
%K Switzerland
%D 2004
%7 3.3.2004
%9 Original Paper
%J J Med Internet Res
%G English
%X Background: There are multiple ways in which community pharmacies can present themselves on the Internet, e.g., as a platform for drug information or as an advertising platform for their services. Objective: To estimate the number of Swiss community pharmacies on the Internet over the period of 32 months (2000-2003), to describe their current e-commerce services, and to explore the experiences and plans these pharmacies have with regard to their Internet presence. Methods: A longitudinal study was performed to determine the number of Swiss German pharmacies on the Internet by conducting Internet searches in 2000, 2001, and 2003. In April 2002, a cross-sectional Internet-based survey was administered to explore the pharmacies' experiences and plans regarding their Web sites. Results: As of April 2003, 373 (44%) of 852 community pharmacies from the German speaking part of Switzerland were on the Internet. One hundred eighty four listed an e-mail address and were asked to complete a questionnaire. Of the 107 pharmacies answering the survey questions (58% response rate): 46% had been on the Internet for 1 to 2 years; 33% of the Web sites are part of a pharmacy group's Web portal; 31% of the pharmacies plan to expand their Internet appearance in the future; 74% provide e-commerce services, with 81% of those pharmacies filling five or less orders per month; and 12% plan on expanding their e-commerce services in the future. Conclusions: The number of community pharmacies offering Internet services steadily increased over 32 months. Given the importance of the Internet as a tool for information, communication, and advertising for pharmacy products and services, it can be expected that the increase will continue. Pharmacy-group portals are important promoters of pharmacies on the Internet. For many community pharmacies, Internet portals that provide an Internet presence for the pharmacies and provide regularly-updated content (e.g., health news, tips, drug information) seem to be the most effective solutions. Even though 40% of the pharmacies already offer e-commerce services, these services are still of minor importance. For many pharmacists, the current legal regulations seem to be unclear. Most pharmacies want to maintain their Internet services. 
%M 15111275
%R 10.2196/jmir.6.1.e9
%U http://www.jmir.org/2004/1/e9/
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.6.1.e9
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15111275