TABLE 2.
The overarching table which includes the themes identified from the synthesis and their compositions.
| Reasons why people purchase prescription medicines on the internet. (sources) |
|---|
| • Perceived benefits: Positive consequences and outcomes that consumers expect to receive from purchasing prescription medicines on the Internet. |
| ⁃ Convenience purchase: Save effort, avoid long waiting times, helpful when the patient is in a bed rest period, fast deliveries, and 24/7 accessibility. (2QL, 3QL, 4QL, 1QN, 5QN, 6QN, 7QN, 8QN, 1MX) |
| ⁃ Privacy. (2QL, 4QL, 1QN, 7QN, 11QN) |
| ⁃ Lower cost. (2QL, 3QL, 4QL, 1QN, 3QN, 4QN, 5QN, 6QN, 8QN, 9QN, 10QN, 11QN, 12MX) |
| ⁃ Bypassing gatekeepers: Bypass doctors who refuse to prescribe prescription medicines. (11QN) |
| ⁃ Medicines availability |
| - Availability of extra quantities. (3QN) |
| - Availability of medicines that are not available locally. (1QN, 4QN, 5QN, 6QN, 8QN, 1MX) |
| - Being able to purchase unlicensed medicines. (3QN, 8QN) |
| - Wide products choices. (1QN, 4QN, 8QN) |
| - Brand medicines availability. (3QN, 1MX) |
| ⁃ Better product quality. (1QN, 4QN, 5QN, 6QN, 8QN, 9QN) |
| ⁃ Avoid withdrawal symptoms for patients using controlled medicines. (11QN) |
| • Perceived risks: Negative outcomes associated with purchasing prescription medicines using the Internet. |
| ⁃ Health risks |
| - Possibility of purchasing fake medicines. (4QL, 5QN, 1MX) |
| - Absence of medical oversight complications, for example, the possibility of misusing medicines. (2QL, 3QN, 5QN, 9QN) |
| ⁃ Financial risks. (4QL) |
| ⁃ Inferior product quality. (2QL, 4QN, 5QN, 7QN, 9QN, 1MX) |
| ⁃ Engaging in illegal behaviour (buying from Unlicensed websites or buying unlicensed medicines). (4QN, 7QN) |
| ⁃ No privacy and confidentiality. (7QN) |
| ⁃ Delayed deliveries. (5QN) |
| • Emotions: A complex reactions, feelings, and affective states that motivate consumers to purchase prescription medicines from the internet |
| ⁃ Desperation caused by medication unavailability. (4QL) |
| ⁃ Fear of the purchase risks. (2QL) |
| ⁃ Hate going to the doctor. (11QN) |
| • Facilitators: Factors that increase consumers’ ability to control the behaviour of purchasing prescription medicines using the web, thus, facilitating the purchase |
| ⁃ Facilitators offered by the online sellers of medicines that make it easier for customers to purchase their product |
| - Websites usability. (2QL) |
| - Easy accessibility as prescription medicines without requiring a prescription. (4QL, 1QN, 3QN, 4QN, 6QN, 8QN, 9QN) |
| - Fast shipping option. (7QN) |
| - Refill reminders by email. (7QN) |
| - Products can be compared faster. (5QN) |
| - Product information and providing instruction on how to use prescription medicines. (1QN, 5N, 7QN, 8QN, 10QN) |
| - Online sellers marketing such as promotion and discounts which make the purchase affordable to consumers. (1QL, 2QL, 10QN, 12QN, 1MX) |
| ⁃ Facilitators offered by social media |
| - Easy and private communication. (1QL, 3QN) |
| - Act as a source of medical information offered by the support groups available on the different social media platforms. (1QL, 2QL) |
| • Barriers: Factors that decrease consumers’ ability to control the behaviour of purchasing prescription medicines using the web, thus, impeding the purchase |
| ⁃ Website-specific barriers (barriers that delay the purchase until consumers can find an alternative) |
| - Absent of suitable payment option. (4QL) |
| - Payment method security. (2QL) |
| - Website language and instructions are in an unknown foreign language. (3QN) |
| ⁃ General barriers (barriers that prevent the purchase) |
| - Financial capabilities. (4QL) |
| - Consumers do not know how to use the medicine. (3QN, 5QN) |
| • Knowledge: Consumer’s knowledge about the purchase (procedural knowledge and the knowledge about the risks of the purchase) |
| ⁃ Computer and internet literacy. (2QL) |
| ⁃ Knowledge about the risks of the purchase. (2QL, 3QL, 3QN, 10QN, 12QN) |
| ⁃ The difficulty in distinguishing between legal and illegal online pharmacies. (3QL, 3QN) |
| • Trusting beliefs: Factors that lead consumers to trust the online sellers of medicines |
| ⁃ Past purchase experience (either positive or negative experience). (3QN, 6QN, 7QN, 12QN, 1MX) |
| ⁃ Customer review (either positive or negative review and feedback). (2QL, 4QL, 6QN, 12QN, 1MX) |
| ⁃ Availability of secure payment option. (2QL) |
| ⁃ Clear information about the product and vendors. (6QN, 7QN) |
| • Social influencing factors: Social factors that could encourage or discourage consumers’ decision to purchase prescription medicines using the Internet. |
| ⁃ Family and friends. (2QL, 3QN, 6QN, 12QN, 1MX) |
| ⁃ Peer influence: People who are in the same situation. (2QL) |
| ⁃ Healthcare provider: Doctors or pharmacists. (2QL, 3QN, 1MX) |
| ⁃ People at online support groups. (2QL) |
| • Environmental factors: Any external environmental condition that encourages or discourages the purchase |
| ⁃ Barriers to accessing the clinic (logistical difficulties, financial difficulties). (4QL) |
| ⁃ Restricted options (few alternatives are available in local market sectors). (1MX) |
| ⁃ Sellers’ marketing (advertising and pop-up ads). (2QL) |
| ⁃ Medicines shortages. (8QN) |
| ⁃ Unsatisfied with the quality of clinical services provided in clinics or local community pharmacies. (1QN, 1MX) |
| ⁃ The Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). (2QN) |
| • Consumer attributes: Demographic, socioeconomics, health information, and the internet using habits and characteristics that could affect the purchasing decision |
| ⁃ Age. (1QN, 2 QN, 4 QN, 5QN, 6QN, 7QN, 11QN, 1 MX) |
| ⁃ Sex. (1QN, 2QN, QN, 7QN) |
| ⁃ Marital status. (2QN) |
| ⁃ Income level. (1QN, 7QN) |
| ⁃ Educational level. (1QN, 2QN, 3QN, 4QN, 5QN, 7QN, 1MX) |
| ⁃ Employment. (1QN, 3QN) |
| ⁃ Health insurance availability. (11QN) |
| ⁃ Time spent on the internet. (5QN, 10QN) |
| ⁃ Social media affinity. (3QN) |
| ⁃ Internet purchase frequency in general. (5QN) |