Variations in Patients' Perceptions and Use of Generic Drugs: Results of a National Survey

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Over 84 % of all prescriptions in the US are filled as generic drugs, though in prior surveys, patients reported concerns about their quality. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to survey patients' perceptions and use of generic drugs. DESIGN: Our survey (administered August 2014) assessed patients' skepticism about generic drug safety and effectiveness and how often they requested brandname drugs. Chi-square tests and two-sample t-tests assessed associations between patient demographics and the outcomes. PARTICIPANTS: Our sample frame was the CVS Advisor Panel, a national database of 124,621 CVS customers. We randomly selected 1450 patients with self-reported chronic conditions who filled at least one prescription in the prior 3 months. MAIN MEASURES: We assessed how often patients reported asking their physicians to prescribe a brandname over a generic drug in the last year, and Bgeneric skepticism,^defined as not believing generic drugs were as safe, effective, had the same side effects, and contained the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs. KEY RESULTS: Of the 1,442 patients with valid addresses, 933 responded (65 % response rate) and 753 took the full survey. A vast majority (83 %) agreed that physicians should prescribe generic drugs when available, and 54 % said they had not asked their physicians to prescribe a brand-name drug over a generic in the past year. Most respondents considered generic drugs to be as effective (87 %) and safe (88 %) as their brand-name counterparts, and to have the same side effects (80 %) and active ingredients (84 %). Non-Caucasians were more likely than Caucasians to request a brand-name drug over a generic (56 % vs. 43 %, p < 0.01), and were also more skeptical of generic drugs' clinical equivalence (43 % vs. 29 %, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We found a substantial shift towards more patients having positive views of generic drugs, but lingering negative perceptions will have to be overcome to ensure continued cost-savings and improved patient outcomes from generic drugs.

Comparison of Generic-to-Brand Switchback Rates Between Generic and Authorized Generic Drugs

“…Patients' or physicians' personal opinions about generic drugs also may affect their acceptance, which can indirectly affect the perceived safety and efficacy of generic drugs . For example, a 2016 national survey found that 13% of respondents believed branded drugs are more effective than generics, and 20% of respondents believed generic drugs have different adverse effects than branded drugs . In a parallel survey of physicians, 11% of physicians expressed negative perceptions about the efficacy of generic drugs, and 27% believed they caused more adverse effects .…”

Drug Brand Response and Its Impact on Compliance and Efficacy in Depression Patients

“…In fact, generics actually aid long term compliance as more economical in developed countries (Shrank et al, 2006; Simoens and Sinnaeve, 2014; Barbui and Conti, 2015). In United States the vast majority (83%) agreed that physicians should prescribe generic drugs when available, however, non-Caucasian has higher brand-name drug response than Caucasian and holds much skeptical attitude to the efficacy and safety of generics (Kesselheim et al, 2016). A survey conducted in Poland showed that about 3/4 of patients preferred to use generic drugs.…”

TheUSBiosimilar Market: Stunted Growth and Possible Reforms

“…Although few peer‐reviewed studies on perceptions of biosimilars exist, a 2014 survey of 81 Canadian rheumatologists found that 72% were unlikely or very unlikely to offer a biologically naive patient a biosimilar over an originator biologic . Skepticism about generic drugs was also high at the time of the Hatch‐Waxman Act, and over 30 years later, about a quarter of physicians and patients remain skeptics of generics . As skepticism about generic safety and effectiveness has improved over time, so it likely will also for biosimilars after sufficient experience with them.…”