Evaluation of Trends in the use of the Internet by Pharmacy Publications: An Observational Study

Abstract

Purpose An observational study was conducted to identify and evaluate trends in the use of the Internet and social media by pharmacy publications. Methods The print and online versions of 10 pharmacy publications were compared at 2 different times separated by 3 years for similarities and differences in content and presentation. Characteristics and functions were evaluated for online publications, including subscription requirements for online access, the dates of online archived material, pre- and postpublication features, e-mail notifications, hyperlinks, and the use of social media and other specialty applications. Results Between 2007 and 2010, online functionality of selected pharmacy publications increased in 52% (12/23) of the features assessed; among these expanded features, the median percent increase was 20%. The 2 most prevalent online features among publications in 2007 and 2010 were article availability in portable document format (pdf) and the ability to submit articles online. The online feature most adopted during the study timeframe was the ability to e-mail friends about an article (increased by 40%). In 2010, the majority of publications offered social media or other specialty applications (80%) and required a paid subscription for online access (60%). Conclusion Currently, not all available online features have been adopted by the reviewed pharmacy publications. Overall, the online functionality of pharmacy publications was maintained or slightly increased from 2007 to 2010. It is important for publishers to continue to expand their presence on the Internet to improve accessibility to the scientific literature.