Exploring public preference for medication pick-up in the United States: A cross-sectional study

Medication delivery preferences are gaining importance in the United States as prescription use increases, and patients are presented with more options for accessing their medications. While many patients still rely on traditional in-person pharmacy pickup, the availability of mail-order services, home delivery options, drive-through lanes, and online pharmacy platforms has increased. Despite the significant expansion of delivery options in the U.S., there is limited information on how patients choose between delivery and in-person.

This study examines patient perspectives on medication access and identifies factors influencing their use of delivery services in the United States.

A survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the national level using SurveyMonkey Audience Panel among English-speaking U.S. adults who have filled at least one prescription medication in the last 6 months. The 27-item survey instrument included questions about the respondents' sociodemographic characteristics, their ratings of convenience, privacy, and preference for picking up medications from various types of pharmacies, as well as their preferences when communicating with pharmacists. Descriptive statistics were used to identify key trends and associations.

A total of 489 participants completed the survey. Mail-order use was reported by 61% of the respondents, mainly driven by time savings and insurance requirements. Chain pharmacies were viewed as the most convenient option, while local community pharmacies ranked highest in terms of preference and privacy. For urgent medications, participants preferred community pharmacies, while chain pharmacies were favored for chronic therapies.

Overall, these findings indicate that pharmacy choice is influenced by several factors, including the type of medication, the setting in which it is obtained, and how patients balance preference, convenience, and privacy. The study also demonstrated that despite the growth of digital health, patients continue to rely heavily on traditional pharmacies and face-to-face communication with pharmacists for trusted and accessible care.