Jairoun Ammar Abdulrahman, Al-Hemyari Sabaa Saleh, Shahwan Moyad, Alkhoujah Sahab, El-Dahiyat Faris, Jaber Ammar Ali Saleh, Zyoud Sa'ed H
Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang 11500, Malaysia.
Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2024 Nov 14;16:100540. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2024.100540. eCollection 2024 Dec.
The study of over the counter (OTC) vending machines is crucial given their growing popularity and potential impact on the pharmaceutical industry and consumer behaviour.
This study involves a bibliometric quantitative analysis of academic literature to evaluate OTC vending machines in terms of their evolution, current trends, and potential areas for future research
The Scopus database was searched using its advanced search tool, focusing on papers that included the search query in their titles, abstracts, and keywords. Data analysis included bibliometric indicators such as publication counts, citation trends, and co-authorship networks, which were visualized using VOSviewer software (version 1.6.20) to highlight key research themes and collaboration patterns.
A total of 399 publications on OTC vending machines were found between 1833 and 2024. Over the last 20 years, there has been an annual increase in the number of publications related to OTC vending machines, rising from 1 in 2001 to 31 in 2023. The United States ( = 118; 29.57 %) led in productivity, followed by the United Kingdom (45; 11.27 %), India (30; 7.51 %), Australia (27; 6.76 %), Canada (16; 4 %), Italy (15; 3.75 %), and China (15; 3.75 %). A total of 35 institutions have been involved in research on OTC vending machines. The Dubai Municipality contributed the highest percentage of articles ( = 3, 0.75 %), followed by the Emirates Health Services (n = 3, 0.75 %), Al Ain University ( = 2, 0.5 %), and Baystate Medical Center (n = 2, 0.5 %). Before 2016, much of the research on OTC vending machines focused on terms related to healthcare policy and health promotion, indicating the early exploration of this field. Present trends highlight terms associated with pharmacy practice, such as pharmacists, pharmacy, and prescription-related subjects.
This study emphasises the practical necessity for enhanced regulatory structures to mitigate risks such as medication abuse, unfavourable drug interactions, and incorrect dispensing practices. Additionally, the study highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration among technologists, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to maximize the benefits of OTC vending machines while addressing consumer behaviour and safety issues.
鉴于非处方（OTC）自动售货机越来越受欢迎，且对制药行业和消费者行为具有潜在影响，对其进行研究至关重要。
本研究涉及对学术文献进行文献计量定量分析，以评估OTC自动售货机的发展历程、当前趋势以及未来研究的潜在领域。
使用Scopus数据库的高级搜索工具进行搜索，重点关注标题、摘要和关键词中包含搜索查询的论文。数据分析包括文献计量指标，如发表数量、引用趋势和共同作者网络，使用VOSviewer软件（版本1.6.20）进行可视化，以突出关键研究主题和合作模式。
在1833年至2024年期间，共发现399篇关于OTC自动售货机的出版物。在过去20年中，与OTC自动售货机相关的出版物数量逐年增加，从2001年的1篇增至2023年的31篇。美国（118篇；29.57%）在生产力方面领先，其次是英国（45篇；11.27%）、印度（30篇；7.51%）、澳大利亚（27篇；6.76%）、加拿大（16篇；4%）、意大利（15篇；3.75%）和中国（15篇；3.75%）。共有35个机构参与了OTC自动售货机的研究。迪拜市贡献的文章比例最高（3篇；0.75%），其次是阿联酋卫生服务局（3篇；0.75%）、艾因大学（2篇；0.5%）和贝斯州医疗中心（2篇；0.5%）。2016年之前，对OTC自动售货机的许多研究集中在与医疗保健政策和健康促进相关的术语上，表明该领域的早期探索。当前趋势突出了与药房实践相关的术语，如药剂师、药房和与处方相关的主题。
本研究强调了加强监管结构以减轻药物滥用、不良药物相互作用和错误配药等风险的实际必要性。此外，该研究强调技术专家、政策制定者和医疗保健专业人员之间需要进行跨学科合作，以在解决消费者行为和安全问题的同时，最大限度地发挥OTC自动售货机的益处。
