Consumers' characteristics associated with the use of mail pharmacy services in the United States: Findings from the 2015 National Consumer Survey on the Medication Experience

Objectives The purpose of this study was to describe current users of mail pharmacy services and to evaluate factors associated with the use of mail pharmacy services. Design Cross-sectional online survey–based study. Setting and participants The data were obtained from the 2015 National Consumer Survey on the Medication Experience, which included 26,173 adults from throughout the United States. Outcome measures Mail pharmacy utilization was based on participant self-report. Demographic variables included age, education, race, gender, insurance status, distance to nearest pharmacy, number of disease states, and income. Chi-square and t test analyses were conducted to assess the factors associated with mail pharmacy use. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to compute the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for the predictors of mail pharmacy usage. Results Overall, 17% of respondents reported the use of mail pharmacy services. Based on chi-square analysis, use of mail pharmacy services was significantly associated with age, education, race, and region. In addition, distance to nearest pharmacy and the report of the presence of certain disease states were significantly associated with mail pharmacy use (P <0.001). Based on the results of logistic regression analysis, there was a significant association of mail pharmacy use by age, having chronic diseases, level of education, distance to nearest pharmacy, and other included variables (P <0.05). Conclusion Mail pharmacy service users accounted for 17% of the respondents of this study. Advancing age, presence of chronic diseases, increasing level of education, and increasing distance to the nearest pharmacy were positively associated with the use of mail pharmacies. Further research is needed to better understand patient-specific reasons for choosing mail pharmacies or community pharmacies.