1 Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia.
2 University of Balochistan, Pakistan.
Health Inf Manag. 2018 Sep;47(3):132-139. doi: 10.1177/1833358317697718. Epub 2017 Mar 9.
The Internet is a resource used by health professionals as well as the public to access health information. Within this context, little is reported on community pharmacists' (CPs') perceptions of online health-related information. The objective of this study was to explore the attitudes of Malaysian CPs towards online health-related information.
A qualitative research method was adopted with face-to-face interviews, using a semi-structured interview guide. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit a convenient sample of CPs who were practising in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analysed by the research team using a thematic content analysis framework.
Eleven CPs participated in the study. Participants reported that online health-related information was accessible, useful, fast, and in some respects, the Internet is a unique source of information. It was reported that there was a need to establish websites for trusted information. CPs also reported that training was needed in Internet searching and website evaluation skills. Most information accessed by CPs related to drugs and diseases and to knowledge-based information. Barriers to efficacy of Internet usage were related to the reliability and volume of information available on the Internet.
Frequent use of online health-related information among CPs was reported. Many CPs supported the use of the Internet for health-related information but certain reservations were also reported. An analysis of the reasons for information seeking and barriers suggests that a wider range of influences on health information seeking should be investigated.
互联网是医疗专业人员和公众获取健康信息的资源。在这种情况下，关于社区药剂师（CPs）对在线健康相关信息的看法的报道很少。本研究的目的是探讨马来西亚 CPs 对在线健康相关信息的态度。
采用定性研究方法，采用面对面访谈，使用半结构化访谈指南。采用目的抽样和滚雪球抽样技术，方便招募在马来西亚吉隆坡联邦领土执业的 CPs 参加。所有访谈均进行录音并逐字转录。研究小组使用主题内容分析框架对数据进行分析。
11 名 CPs 参加了研究。参与者报告说，在线健康相关信息是可访问的、有用的、快速的，在某些方面，互联网是一种独特的信息来源。报告称需要建立值得信赖的信息网站。CPs 还报告说，需要进行互联网搜索和网站评估技能培训。CPs 访问的大多数信息与药物和疾病以及基于知识的信息有关。互联网使用效率的障碍与互联网上可用信息的可靠性和数量有关。
报告称 CPs 经常使用在线健康相关信息。许多 CPs 支持将互联网用于健康相关信息，但也报告了一些保留意见。对信息搜索原因和障碍的分析表明，应该调查更广泛的健康信息搜索影响因素。
