KRUCIAL- All in One Delivery Web Application

This is a website for searching availability of any stationary product in the nearby stationary stores of the user, now including the online pharmacy feature and then the user can place the order in any of those stores. The user will enter the product name required. After searching for the availability of that product in the nearby store, the result will be shown (including a description of the product, price of the product, etc). Then the user can compare the price and quality of the product. After that, the user can choose a store from where they want to order the required product. The users can directly explore the website and can continue shopping. And once the order gets confirmed from the store the user will receive confirmation details. Once the order gets delivered the user will receive a feedback form about the experience of shopping with our website and also the delivery time, behavior of that delivery person. The user can also rate and write reviews on our website about the store they have placed their order.

Estimating proportion of days covered (PDC) using real-world online medicine suppliers’ datasets

Background The proportion of days covered (PDC) is used to estimate medication adherence by looking at the proportion of days in which a person has access to the medication, over a given period of interest. This study aimed to adapt the PDC algorithm to allow for plausible assumptions about prescription refill behaviour when applied to data from online pharmacy suppliers. Methods Three PDC algorithms, the conventional approach (PDC1) and two alternative approaches (PDC2 and PDC3), were used to estimate adherence in a real-world dataset from an online pharmacy. Each algorithm has different denominators and increasing levels of complexity. PDC1, the conventional approach, is the total number of days between first dispensation and a defined end date. PDC2 counts the days until the end of supply date. PDC3 removes from the denominator specifically defined large gaps between refills, which could indicate legitimate reasons for treatment discontinuation. The distribution of the three PDCs across four different follow-up lengths was compared. Results The dataset included people taking ACE inhibitors (n = 65,905), statins (n = 100,362), and/or thyroid hormones (n = 30,637). The proportion of people taking ACE inhibitors with PDC ≥ 0.8 was 50–74% for PDC1, 81–91% for PDC2, and 86–100% for PDC3 with values depending on drug and length of follow-up. Similar ranges were identified in people taking statins and thyroid hormones. Conclusion These algorithms enable researchers and healthcare providers to assess pharmacy services and individual levels of adherence in real-world databases, particularly in settings where people may switch between different suppliers of medicines, meaning an individual supplier’s data may show temporary but legitimate gaps in access to medication. Accurately identifying problems with adherence provides the foundation for opportunities to improve experience, adherence and outcomes and to reduce medicines wastage. Research with people taking medications and prescribers is required to validate the algorithms’ assumptions.

Integration of a virtual pharmacy simulation program “MyDispense” in clinical pharmacy education

Background: Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and with the absence of conventional social interactions, artificial intelligence and simulation become essential part of sustaining productivity around the world. MyDispense, an online pharmacy simulation, allows students to experience real-life situations in a virtual professional setting to behave as a pharmacist and undertake professional tasks. Aim: The study aim was to see how MyDispense influenced pharmacy students' clinical pharmacy education outcomes. Methods: A questionnaire was used to assess satisfaction, confidence and motivation, clinical experience, and decision-making among 81 students of both genders pre and post the practice. Results: Pre and post-test differences in all four dimensions of the questionnaire were statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results obtained from this study indicate a collective improvement in the field-related knowledge of the participants, enhanced medication management performance, and a more precise application of clinical tools.

Student Pharmacists’ Perceptions of Amazon Pharmacy

Amazon recently launched their online pharmacy in the United States (US). However, no studies have explored student pharmacists’ perceptions of the potential impact of Amazon Pharmacy. This qualitative study used individual semi-structured interviews to examine third- and fourth-year student pharmacists’ perceptions of how Amazon Pharmacy will affect economic, clinical, and humanistic outcomes; the pharmacy experience; and the job market. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed by two independent reviewers until saturation was reached, with differences resolved through discussion with a third researcher. Seventeen students participated in the study. Five themes were identified: perceived economic outcomes for patients, perceived clinical outcomes for patients, perceived humanistic outcomes for patients, perceived impact of the pharmacy experience for patients, and perceived influence of Amazon Pharmacy on the pharmacy market. The majority suggested Amazon Pharmacy would offer lower costs for patients (71%), improved medication adherence (76%), and improved quality of life (65%). There was a consensus that the Amazon Pharmacy experience would be different, with various opinions highlighting potential positive or negative aspects of the service. There were mixed opinions about job opportunities and impact on existing pharmacies. Future studies should evaluate economic, clinical, and humanistic outcomes for patients utilizing Amazon Pharmacy.

A Study On Application Of Blockchain Technology To Control Counterfeit Drugs, Enhance Data Privacy and Improve Distribution In Online Pharmacy

Technology has always emerged to embolden the existing working process. On the one hand, it encourages transparency, accessibility and robustness in the system and on the other hand, it begets mitigation of the risks and allows us to detect, evaluate and eliminate vulnerability in the system. The most prominent technologies in todays’ world like Artificial Intelligence, Virtual/Augmented Reality, Automation, Cloud Computing are thriving to solve society’s problems and ensure the expedition in the process from its previous generation. Blockchain technology is no exception in providing the solution to eliminate the counterfeit markets across the globe and building trust among parties to do business without the fear of indulging or facing any unscrupulous business. Blockchain technology can ensure data privacy while improving supply chain transparency and reducing fraud. It can provide all stakeholders within a certain supply chain with access to the same information, potentially reducing errors. A decentralised application can pave the way to promulgate online pharmaceutical business where health information and each stakeholders’ data is not compromised. Against this backdrop the research conducted throws light on the challenges in the online medical drug and devices’ distribution and proposes a solution, an architectural design for blockchain technology in an online pharmaceutical platform to mitigate the counterfeit market while bringing efficiency to the ecosystem.

ANALYSIS OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF GOOD PHARMACY PRACTICE FOR PHARMACEUTICAL CONSULTINGWHEN CHOOSING OTC DRUGS ON THE WEBSITES OF ONLINE PHARMACIES

Purpose of the study: to analyze the current state of Internet pharmacy websites in terms of compliance with Good Pharmacy Prac- tice requirements for pharmaceutical counseling for OTC-medicines. Methods. The study used the method of content analysis; a search was carried out in the search engines Google and Yandex for the keywords, «buy a pharmacy», «a drug store to buy a drug», «online pharmacy». TOP 25 pharma- cy websites were subjected to logical, comparative and structural analysis. The study consisted of 2 stages: an anal- ysis of the requirements of regulatory documents for pharmaceutical consulting when selling OTC drugs and an as- sessment of pharmacy websites in terms of ensuring compliance with these requirements when carrying out online commerce. Results. Studies of online pharmacy websites showed that most of the sites did not fully comply with the regulated require- ments: a pharmaceutical license is presented on 80% of sites, information on the type of pharmacy organization, on the impossibility of returning and exchanging pharmacy goods - on 76% of sites. The choice of OTC drugs based on symptoms within the framework of responsible self-medication was available on 24% of Internet pharmacy sites, but there were no indications of symptoms requiring immediate medical attention. Links to the State Register of Maximum Selling Prices were available on 8% of Internet pharmacy sites. Conclusion. Comparative analysis of information requirements in relation to pharmaceutical consulting in a pharmacy, reg- ulated by Orders of the Ministry of Health of Russia No. 80 «On approval of the Industry standard» Rules for the dispensing (sale) of medicines in pharmacies. Basic provisions «and No. 647n dated 31.08.2016» On approval of the Rules Good Pharma- cy Practice of Medicinal Products for Medical Use ”, Government Decree No. 697 of May 16, 2020“ On Approval of the Rules for Issuing Permits for Remote Retail Sale of Medicinal Products for Medical Use, Implementation of Such Trade ... ”, showed that most of the requirements for offline pharmacy were reflected in relation to Internet pharmacies, however, as a result of the analysis of Internet pharmacy websites, it was found that these requirements are not fully met. Additional criteria for evaluating online pharmacy sites corresponding to the level of pharmaceutical care in an offline pharmacy are proposed: the ability to select an OTC drug by symptoms within the framework of responsible self-medication, the presence of indications of symptoms that require immediate medical attention, the presence of instructions for the medical use of the drug in in ac- cordance with the State Register of Medicines, ensuring access to the State Register of maximum selling prices, availability of information on the actual shelf life of the medicinal products being sold.

Adoption of online pharmacy applications during COVID-19 pandemic; empirical investigation in the Indian context from push-pull and mooring framework

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify antecedents of adoption and post-adoption switching of online pharmacy applications (OPA) in Indian society. A push-pull-mooring (PPM) model was formulated to evaluate the impact of various constructs upon “consumers’ switching intention” (CSI). Design/methodology/approach An online questionnaire was sent to 252 users of OPA in India. Hypotheses were generated to examine the push, pull and mooring effects of constructs developed. The relationships between dependent and independent variables were evaluated using structured equation modeling (SEM). Findings The study explicated the effect of PPM constructs on CSI in the context of OPA adoption. “Perceived usefulness,” “perceived ease of use” and “alternative attractiveness” had a significant “pull” effect on CSI. “Switching cost” had a “mooring” effect on CSI, whereas the degree of “customer involvement in decision-making” was found to have a “push” effect upon CSI. Research limitations/implications This study theoretically established that the constructs of “perceived usefulness,” “perceived ease of use” and “alternative attractiveness” had significant “pull” effect on “consumers’ switching intention.” The construct of “switching cost” had a “mooring” effect on CSI, whereas the degree of “customer involvement in decision-making” was found to have a “push” effect upon CSI. Practical implications The study provided valuable insights regarding consumer behavior regarding OPAs. These findings could be applied by managers in framing effective strategies to grow and retain the customer base of OPAs. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this was one of the first empirical investigative studies to assess precursors of adoption and post-adoption characteristics of consumer behavior through the PPM model, in the context of Indian OPAs.