Assessing knowledge and practice of online medication purchasing: A pilot study

Background: Online Medication Purchasing (OMP) has emerged as a growing concern because of the risk of receiving falsified products and the irrational use of medicines. Despite the government regulation about OMP, more is needed to know whether the residents are aware of this regulation. Objective: The study aimed to determine the level of knowledge & practice of OMP and to estimate the factors correlated to it. Method: A pilot project was conducted in the Wanasari village, Cibitung district, Bekasi. A validated questionnaire determined the sociodemographics, knowledge, and practice of 92 participants regarding OMP. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to measure the predictors of OMP knowledge. Result: The study showed that slightly over half of the participants have adequate knowledge of OMP (58.7%). Nevertheless, poor knowledge predominantly emerged regarding legal access to antibiotics and controlled medicines. Adequate knowledge of OMP increased for participants with higher education (OR:20.202; 95%CI:3.488-117.020; p = 0.001) and being active workers (OR:8.365; 95%CI:1.974-35.435; p = 0.004). Conclusion: Education and employment determine OMP knowledge. This study confirms that educational interventions are required to promote good OMP practice and protect health customers from the adverse effects of falsified medications.