Knowledge and perception about generic drugs in patients coming to OPD of tertiary care centre

Abstract

Background:In an era of rapidly rising health care costs generic medicines provide a less expensive alternative to branded medicines. In addition to reducing the overall health care expenditure, it has been shown to improve adherence. Objective was to study knowledge and perception about generic drugs among patients coming to outpatient department of tertiary care centre. Methods: After ethical approval a cross sectional questionnaire based study was conducted. Patients (n=71) were interviewed according to questionnaire in vernacular language by investigator to fill questionnaire. Results: About 28% people think that price of generic drug is less than a branded drug while nearly 61% of people don't know of it. Only 18.85% participants had taken generic medicine. Trusting efficacy of generic drugs only 30 participants were in favour it. Even they have not seen or heard publicity of generic drugs (61.97%). They (60.56%) opined that generic drugs never prescribe in our country. Conclusions: Limitation in knowledge and perception about generic medicines has been seen among participants.

Opinion of patients seeking primary care regarding prescription of generic drugs: A cross-sectional study

“…reported similar results where 35.21% of patients had a good awareness of the generic drugs. [ 12 ] Studies by Tripathi and Bhattacharya in northern India reported that 72% and Jangra et al . reported 92% of participants were aware or heard about generic medicines which were quite higher as compared to our study but the sample size of these studies were relatively lesser than our study.…”

“…(18.31%). [ 12 ] The probable reason behind low use could be the decision of prescription being taken by physicians and patients have a restricted role in deciding the type of medication. This study also reported that 78.6% of patients do not trust generic medicines.…”

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the essential medicines should be freely accessible and affordable to the population but the literature search has revealed an unfavorable perception of patients regarding generic medicines. [ 11 12 13 ] In 2015, the Government of India launched Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) with an objective of making the quality unbranded medicines affordable and available for all, especially for poor and disadvantaged through exclusive retails stores named as “Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras” which are pharmacies selling mainly generic name medicines to the maximum extent possible with an aim of reducing out-of-pocket expenditures from patients. [ 14 ] Despite many steps taken by the government generic medicines are underused in our country.…”

“…Literature from western countries, where generic substitution is an established practice, shows evidence of the perception of generic medicine among patients but there are very few studies in India reporting perception of Indian patients about generics and the majority of these studies have a smaller sample size. [ 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 ] Hence, this study was planned to assess knowledge and perception of generic drugs among patients visiting the outpatient department of primary care physicians at the Patan city of Gujarat. The objective was to study knowledge and perception about generics among patients coming to the outpatient department of tertiary health care institute.…”

Generic drugs: a study on awareness among medical students and interns

“…Interns where students (94.5%) and interns (74%) were aware of the concept of generic drugs. 22 Students were usually taught about generic drugs in 2nd year MBBS Pharmacology class; but they gradually tend to forget by the time they start internship. In the present study only 43 (33.1%) of students and 47 (70.1%) of interns know that generic medicines are available only at Pradhanamantri Bharathiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra.…”