Korean J Clin Pharm.  2016 Dec;26(4):324-329. 10.0000/kjcp.2016.26.4.324.

Pattern of Pharmacist Consultation among the Health Counseling Services via Internet Portal Sites: A Pilot Study

• Kim H
• Park JH
• Ji E

• KMID: 2369010
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kjcp.2016.26.4.324

Abstract

BACKGROUND
With the development of information and communication technology, there is a growing number of people looking for health information on the internet. This pilot study was performed to analyze the pattern of pharmacist consultation on the internet portal site.
METHODS
Questions and answers posted on the portal site "Naver Jisik-iN" from March 1st to 31th in 2016 were collected. Medications asked were categorized into prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, sanitary aids, emergency drugs, functional health foods, and others. Medications were subcategorized into 14 according to the anatomical therapeutic chemical classification system. Questions were divided into 10 categories based on Hepler's drug-related problems.
RESULTS
Of the 955 cases, females accounted for 59.5% and inquirers from 11 to 40 years old, 89.4%. The number of prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, sanitary aids, emergency drugs, functional health foods, and others were 428 (44.8%), 328 (34.3%), 31 (3.3%), 2 (0.2%), 122 (12.8%), and 44 (4.6%), respectively. Questions for drugs acting on alimentary tract and metabolism took up 27.4% followed by those on nervous system, 13.6% and anti-infectives for systemic use, 12.2%. Pharmacist consultation regarding drug information, drug interaction, and adverse reaction occupied 47.9%, 15.2%, and 12.3%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Health counseling through online is predicted to increase steadily, so pharmacists should broaden their boundaries beyond off-line pharmacies to meet social needs.

Keyword

Naver; internet; pharmacist consultation; information services; user's behavior

MeSH Terms

Classification
Counseling*
Drug Interactions
Emergencies
Female
Humans
Information Services
Internet*
Metabolism
Nervous System
Nonprescription Drugs
Pharmacies
Pharmacists*
Pilot Projects*
Prescription Drugs
Nonprescription Drugs
Prescription Drugs