Consumers' Attitudes Toward Generic Drugs

Generic medicines: perceptions of consumers in Melbourne, Australia

“…Some consumers only choose a generic brand for the treatment of acute illness. This finding corresponds with two previous studies reported by Podulka et al 17 and Ganther and Kreling, 29 which concluded that consumers' acceptance of a generic medicine was found to be related to the degree of risk they attached to it, and this risk is dependent upon the seriousness of the disease state and not the medication itself. Although consumers in these two studies knew what generic medicines are and were positively predisposed toward them, they were less likely to want to use them for chronic or serious conditions where the possibility of ineffectiveness might have serious consequences.…”

“…There is a similarity between this study and two studies conducted in US, which concluded that up to 95% of consumers stated they would feel confident with generic medicines if they were prescribed by physicians and 90% would be confident if generics were recommended by pharmacists. 17,28 Good communication between medical practitioners and consumers, and between pharmacists and consumers, is vital if optimal health and economic outcomes are to be achieved through the use generic medicines. While the interviews revealed that consumers undertake different decision-making processes before they are willing to try generic medicines, virtually all wanted to be informed about and participate in making decisions about their preferred brand of medication, to some degree.…”

“…Although a few studies have looked at some of these issues in the world's leading market for generic medicines, the US, it is difficult to extrapolate these findings to the Australian situation due to the major differences in the healthcare system, especially the way in which pharmaceuticals are funded. [17][18][19] An understanding of consumers' views is important to the overall planning of educational interventions, to further enhance the utilisation of generic medicines in Australia. Therefore the aim of this study was to explore consumers' perceptions and opinions of generic medicines and to identify barriers to their use of generic medicines.…”

Consumers' views on generic medicines: A review of the literature

“…Furthermore, in a study of 100 consumers in the Chicago area, published in 1989, the majority of consumers replied that generic medications were equal in quality to their brand‐name counterparts 15 . Almost all the consumers surveyed said they would feel confident about a generic drug if a physician or a pharmacist recommended it.…”

Consumers’ views on generic medicines: a review of the literature

“…Furthermore, in a study of 100 consumers in the Chicago area, published in 1989, the majority of consumers replied that generic medications were equal in quality to their brand-name counterparts. [15] Almost all the consumers surveyed said they would feel confident about a generic drug if a physician or a pharmacist recommended it. Although consumers knew what generic drugs were, had positive experiences with them and thought they were equal in quality to brand-name products, they were less likely to take them for chronic and serious conditions.…”