USE OF THE INTERNET BY THE COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS OF PONTEVEDRA AND PERCEPTION OF ITS UTILITY IN RELATION TO PATIENTS USE OF INTERNET BY COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS OF PONTEVEDRA

OBJECTIVE To get to know the impact of the use of Internet on the professional practice of the community pharmacists (CP) in Pontevedra, the degree of use, the purpose of accessing information, barriers they come up against and the perception they have of how it influences their relationship with their patients. METHOD A descriptive, transversal, observational study in which an ad hoc questionnaire was given to the CPs in Pontevedra, based on those found in literature and adapted to the specific characteristics of our profession and environment by a group of experts, consisting of five community pharmacists. RESULTS 159 questionnaires were collected (15,7% of the CPs in the province). Professional use: 119 (74,8%) daily. The information obtained on Internet is considered to be totally reliable by 68,6%. Perceived difficulties: the introduction of e-prescriptions has restricted the access to some professional websites (71,1%), lack of time during working hours (66,0%). Use of Internet with regard to the patients: most of the pharmacists questioned (55,3%) said they receive queries from patients about information related to health found on the Internet once or twice a month. 18,8% of the pharmacists felt it would be a good idea to receive daily queries from patients by e-mail, 22,3% said once or twice a week, 17,0% said once or twice a month and 40,9% would prefer never to receive them. CONCLUSION The community pharmacists in Pontevedra are aware of the possibilities, but do not yet perceive the usefulness of electronic exchange with patients and other health professionals.