Ding Liang, She Qiuru, Chen Fengxian, Chen Zitong, Jiang Meifang, Huang Huasi, Li Yujin, Liao Chaofeng
Clinical Trial and Research Center, People's Hospital of Baoan Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.
Department of Pharmacy, People's Hospital of Baoan Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.
J Med Internet Res. 2020 Aug 6;22(8):e19678. doi: 10.2196/19678.
Widespread access to the internet has boosted the emergence of online hospitals. A new outpatient service called "internet hospital plus drug delivery" (IHDD) has been developed in China, but little is known about this platform.
The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics, acceptance, and initial impact of IHDD during the outbreak of COVID-19 in a tertiary hospital in South China.
The total number of and detailed information on online prescriptions during the first 2 months after work resumption were obtained. Patients' gender, age, residence, associated prescription department, time of prescription, payment, and drug delivery region were included in the analysis.
A total of 1380 prescriptions were picked up or delivered between March 2 and April 20, 2020. The largest group of patients were 36-59 years old (n=680, 49.3%), followed by the 18-35 years age category (n=573, 41.5%). In total, 39.4% (n=544) of the patients chose to get their medicine by self-pickup, while 60.6% (n=836) preferred to receive their medicine via drug delivery service. The top five online prescription departments were infectious diseases (n=572, 41.4%), nephrology (n=264, 19.1%), endocrinology (n=145, 10.5%), angiocardiopathy (n=107, 7.8%), and neurology (n=42, 3%). Of the 836 delivered prescriptions, 440 (52.6%) were sent to Guangdong Province (including 363 [43.4%] to Shenzhen), and 396 (47.4%) were sent to other provinces in China.
The IHDD platform is efficient and convenient for various types of patients during the COVID-19 crisis. Although offline visits are essential for patients with severe conditions, IHDD can help to relieve pressure on hospitals by reducing an influx of patients with mild symptoms. Further efforts need to be made to improve the quality and acceptance of IHDD, as well as to regulate and standardize the management of this novel service.
互联网的广泛普及推动了在线医院的兴起。中国已推出一项名为“互联网医院+送药上门”（IHDD）的新型门诊服务，但对此平台了解甚少。
本研究旨在调查中国南方一家三级医院在新冠疫情期间IHDD的特点、接受度及初步影响。
获取复工后头两个月内在线处方的总数及详细信息。分析患者的性别、年龄、居住地、相关处方科室、处方时间、支付方式及送药地区。
2020年3月2日至4月20日期间，共取药或送药1380张处方。患者人数最多的年龄段为36 - 59岁（n = 680，49.3%），其次是18 - 35岁年龄段（n = 573，41.5%）。总计39.4%（n = 544）的患者选择自取药品，而60.6%（n = 836）的患者更倾向于通过送药服务获取药品。在线处方量排名前五的科室为传染病科（n = 572，41.4%）、肾内科（n = 264，19.1%）、内分泌科（n = 145，10.5%）、心血管病科（n = 107，7.8%）和神经内科（n = 42，3%）。在836张送药处方中，440张（52.6%）被送往广东省（其中363张[43.4%]送往深圳），396张（47.4%）被送往中国其他省份。
在新冠疫情期间，IHDD平台对各类患者而言高效且便捷。尽管重症患者必须进行线下就诊，但IHDD可通过减少轻症患者涌入来帮助缓解医院压力。需要进一步努力提高IHDD的质量和接受度，并规范和标准化这项新型服务的管理。
