Background
The Internet presents a new potential for health services and pharmacy practice research. A literature search presented to an International Conference in 1999 identified only 21 surveys using email, internet groups and the world wide web, for the purpose of collecting data in health related surveys.¹ Within pharmacy the use of an email survey has been described.² Methodology for developing email³ and web⁴ surveys is available.

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of the Internet for pharmacy practice research. More specific objectives were to:

• compare the response rates to a survey administered by post, email or world wide web
• identify preferences for the two methods of return using the Internet; email or web
• profile the perceptions that pharmacists have of the professional organisations associated with pharmacy
• compare the views of a group of pharmacists on an Internet mailing list⁵ with those from a random selection of members of a local branch of the RPSGB

Method
A questionnaire was devised to profile the perceptions that pharmacists hold of the professional organisations associated with pharmacy. Semantic differential scales were used with twenty one sets of adjective pairs chosen for the bipolar rating scales to represent three major dimensions; evaluation (interesting/boring), potency (strong/weak) and activity (leading/trailing) The questionnaire was piloted by email and amended.

The main sampling frame for the survey was the pharmacist members of the Private-Rx Internet mailing list. 388 members were randomly divided into four groups for receipt of the survey in November 1999.
Group 1 - received the questionnaire within the text of an email message
Group 2 - received an email message asking them to visit a website to view and complete the questionnaire
Group 3 - received an email with the option of completing the questionnaire by email or visiting the website
Group 4 - received the questionnaire by post with a stamped addressed envelope for return
In addition a group of 110 pharmacists were randomly selected from a list of members of a local branch of the RPSGB (Group 5). They received the questionnaire by post. The groups were told that they were part of a randomised-controlled study, but were not told that it involved the different methods of data collection. They were asked not to discuss details of the survey on the mailing list. A reminder/thankyou was sent, using the appropriate methodology, to all members of each group after 10 days. The data was input and analysed using SPSS.

Results
The presentation will discuss the results of the first two objectives; in particular looking at the technical factors, selection bias, and identified strengths and weaknesses of an Internet administered survey.

Internet access is rapidly expanding and the experience gained from this research will be of value to other researchers considering using electronic methods for surveys.

References

1. Fischbacher C, Chappel D, Edwards R, Summertown N. The use and abuse of the Internet for Survey Research. Association of Survey Computing International Conference 1999
2. Loewen P. E-mail for conduction surveys Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 1997; 54: 1334
3. Schaefer DR, Dillman DA. Development of a standard email methodology. Pubic Opinion Quarterly 1998; 62: 378-397
4. Dillman DA, Tortora RD, Bowker D. Principles for constructing web surveys. SESRC Technical report 1998 98-50 Pullman, Washington
5. Private-Rx The Information Network for UK Pharmacists. http://www.private-rx.net/