(B-107) Uptake of online pharmacy services among adult patients attending the diabetes clinic at the largest referral hospital in Kenya and the implications on medicines utilisation.

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects millions of Africans.

Management of the disease requires regular access to essential medication, health information

And constant monitoring of blood glucose levels. In the past decade, the development of

Online pharmacy services has revolutionized access to medication, and offers benefits such as

Increased patient compliance and lowered incidence of associated complications due to ease

Of access to chronic diabetes medication. However, there is paucity of data on utilization of

Online services among diabetic patients in Kenya.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the trends in utilization of online pharmacy services among

adult diabetes patients attending the Kenyatta National Hospital diabetes clinic and how they impacted utilisation of medicines

Methods: Using a prospective cross-sectional study design, demographic and user data on patterns of

Use of online pharmacy services was collected from a sample of 98 outpatients with either

Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes who attended the diabetic clinic at the Kenyatta National

Hospital between January and March 2024 using surveys. The data was coded, then

Descriptively analyzed. Ethical approval was sought from the Kenyatta National Hospital –

University of Nairobi Ethics and Research Committee.

Results: Majority (62.79%) of the sample population had never heard of online pharmacy services. Of

The proportion that was aware of the service only 11% had used online pharmacy services to

Purchase medication. This section of responders mainly resided in Nairobi. They expressed

Satisfaction in the services they received with an average rating of 4.1/5 on the experience.

The convenience of doorstep delivery was the most frequently sighted reason for using online

Pharmacy services. However, the patients expressed hesitation using online pharmacy

Services due to the fear of purchasing counterfeit medicines, unreliable delivery services,

Perceived high expenses and to safeguard their personal data.

Conclusions: In order to enhance uptake of antidiabetic medicines and reduce rates of non-adherence in low resource limited settings, patient awareness to the availability of online pharmacy services is crucial. Proper regulation is required to avoid the potential misuse and infiltration of this service by unqualified personnel who supply substandard drugs.