JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The emergence of the Internet and social media has significantly influenced how adults and medicine users access medicines information (MI), with electronic sources increasingly replacing traditional sources.

Objective:

This study aimed to systematically review 1) the prevalence of the receipt of MI from electronic sources, e.g., Internet, social media, compared to traditional sources, e.g., physicians, pharmacists, package leaflets (PLs), among adult medicine users, and 2) whether the use of the Internet and other electronic MI sources has increased since 2010.

Methods:

A systematic review was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies on the receipt of MI among medicine users over 18 years in developed economies. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines, sourcing articles from CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, covering studies conducted and published from January 1, 2010, to October 31, 2023. The quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Due to the methodological heterogeneity, a descriptive qualitative synthesis was performed.

Results:

A total of 24 studies from 10 countries were included, 18 being cross-sectional surveys. Physicians, pharmacists, and PLs were consistently identified as the primary sources of MI for adult medicine users, regardless of patient group, country, or study methodology. No significant trends in the use of MI sources over time were observed, but variations in the frequency of receiving MI were noted depending on research method, patient group, and type of medicine used. Individuals familiar with the Internet were likelier to seek MI from electronic sources such as websites and social media. MI from social media was not separated from MI obtained from other Internet sources. Most studies were cross-sectional, with only one being a national long-term trend study. Half of the studies (n=13/24) focused on heterogeneous medicine user groups, while the other half (n=11/24) targeted a specific medicine user group, such as arthritis, methotrexate, cardiovascular, antimigraine, and vasculitis medicine users. The studies were methodologically sound but lacked a theoretical foundation, with only two studies being theory-based.

Conclusions:

Despite the increasing role of the Internet and social media, traditional MI sources, such as physicians, pharmacists, and PLs, remain the most common and trusted sources among adult medicine users. The receipt of MI from electronic sources has increased, particularly among individuals familiar with the Internet, though no significant temporal trends in using these sources were identified. Further research is needed to explore digital platforms' evolving and diversifying roles and trends in MI dissemination and communication, particularly considering user demographics and health contexts. A more detailed examination of the receipt of MI from the Internet and social media is necessary to understand their impact on images of health, health-related decisions, and behaviors in the digital age.