Rural Patient's Willingness to Use Mobile Phone Technologies for Accessing Pharmacy Services

Objectives: This pilot study documents patient’s willingness to use mobile phone technologies for accessing pharmacy services in rural areas in the U.S. to evaluate the potential to use health information technology in delivery of patient centered pharmacy services.

Methods: An anonymous IRB approved survey was completed voluntarily by patients visiting 2 rural pharmacies in Nebraska from August to October, 2011. The 2-page survey collected data on their demographics, health status, mobile phone use, and willingness to use and give time for accessing mobile phone based pharmacy services.

 Results: Twenty four patients responded to the survey. Respondents were 19-40 year olds (52%), female (88%), married (63%), with >/=$35,000 annual income (55%), excellent to very good health status (63%), with </=$100 monthly medication expenses (80%), with private insurance (78%), and living within 5 miles of their pharmacy (71%). Majority reported that mobile phone based health services are important to them (75%). Respondents had access to a mobile phone (91%), voice mails (81%), text messaging (73%), and mobile phone applications (55%). Respondents were willing to receive telephone/mobile phone messages by a pharmacist for various services: new or refill prescription reminders (63%), contact by pharmacist for medication problems (61%), review and monitor medication use (54%), medication information and self-manage medication use (50%). Of 44% respondents that were willing to give time for mobile phone based services, 83% were willing to give 15 minutes and 17% were willing to give 30 minutes every month.

 Conclusion: The potential patient demand for mobile phone based pharmacy services could be a novel use of health information technology to deliver patient centered pharmacy services in rural areas. The study findings and pharmacist’s willingness to supply these services need to be evaluated in larger populations.