ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF E-PRESCRIBING FROM THE PHARMACISTS' PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Various electronic prescription systems are being developed both in Russia and around the world. For their effective implementation, it is necessary not only to bring regulatory and legal acts in line with modern technological innovations, but also to take into account the point of view of the users of such systems - patients, pharmacists and doctors. In order to identify the opinion of pharmacists about the current state of the system and their satisfaction, a survey was conducted. For this purpose, we used a questionnaire, tested for reliability (Cronbach's alpha measurement) and validity (Pearson correlation coefficient estimation). The results of the questionnaire, literature review, regulatory and legal documents allowed us to conduct a PEST-analysis with the establishment of political, economic, socio-cultural and technological factors that influence the system, as well as a SWOT-analysis with the identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the system. Its advantages, with which most of the interviewed specialists agree, include reduction of medical errors in prescribing, increased protection of users' personal data, contribution to the fight against fake prescriptions. Strengths include simplified pharmaceutical review of prescriptions, no need to analyze doctors' handwriting and simplified dispensing of medicines. Weaknesses include various technical failures, lack of or insufficient training. It is important to note that more than half (54%) of the surveyed pharmacists encounter difficulties when working with the system. In addition, recommendations for the improvement of this system were proposed, taking into account the data of sociological research, PEST-analysis and SWOT-analysis.