Study on the factors of knowledge and willingness of online prescription drug purchases in Shanghai residents

Abstract

In the present study, we aimed to survey whether Shanghai residents were willing to buy prescription drugs online. This study randomly surveyed the influence factors of Shanghai residents of different age, educational background, income, and occupation in the form of online questionnaires about whether they would buy prescription drugs online. Age had a significant effect on the awareness rate of online prescription drug purchases. There was no significant difference between the awareness rate of online prescription drug purchase and education, “whether the respondents are practitioners in pharmaceutical industry or not” and monthly income. Age and monthly income were related to the willingness of online prescription drug purchases. “Whether the respondents are practitioners in pharmaceutical industry or not” was not correlated with the willingness of online prescription drug purchases. It is necessary to strengthen the popularity of online drug stores and online prescription drug purchases and reduce consumers’ expenses on the above-mentioned drugs.