Assessment of community pharmacists’ knowledge of the differences between generic drugs and biosimilars: A pilot cross-sectional study

Awada, Sanaa; Sayah, Roudy; Mansour, Maribelle; Nabhane, Cynthia; Hatem, Georges

doi:10.1177/27550834231167049

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 31 publications

(37 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Overall, participants expressed good knowledge about generic drugs in agreement with a recently published study. 27 Most participants knew that generic drugs must be in the same dosage and form as their brands. This knowledge is significantly higher among pharmacists than physicians, 23 highlighting their role as key stakeholders in lowering pharmaceutical expenditures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lebanese pharmacists’ knowledge of generic drugs and factors affecting their use and selection following the pandemic and the economic crisis: A pilot cross-sectional study

Mansour,

Hatem,

Ballout

et al. 2023

Journal of Generic Medicines

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Pharmacists are crucial in lowering pharmaceutical expenditures by substituting brand-name drugs for generic drugs. They are expected to understand the principles and practices of generic drug substitution for high-quality patient care. Some key areas of knowledge include bioequivalence and therapeutic equivalence, regulatory requirements, drug interchangeability, and adequate patient counseling. Objectives This study aims to assess the knowledge, perception, and practice of generic drug substitution among pharmacists in Lebanon following the crises and the factors affecting the prescription and selection of generic drugs. Methods A pilot descriptive cross-sectional study targeting 80 Lebanese pharmacists was conducted over 2 months (September-October 2022), in which data were collected using a uniform survey. Results Overall, pharmacists had a good knowledge of generic drugs in terms of active ingredients (97.5%), pharmaceutical form (85.0%), lower cost (88.7%), bioequivalence to the brand before (95.0%), and therapeutic equivalence. Nevertheless, 22.5% reported that generic drugs are less safe than brands, and 22.5% said they cause side effects or did not know. Among the possible factors that influence the prescription of generic drugs, 35.0% of pharmacists reported that the financial situation of the patient is among the least important factors, while the lack of possible alternatives (45.0%) and the difference in prices (40.0%) were the most important ones. The price of different generics on the market was among the most important factors (36.3%) affecting the selection of generic drugs, followed by the patient’s. preference (26.3%). Only 11.2% considered the information given by pharmaceutical firms could affect their choice, and 10.0% considered the presence or not of excipients with known effects in the formulation. Conclusion Most pharmacists in Lebanon were familiar with generic drugs and supported generic drug substitution. Factors affecting generic drug use and prescription should be further explored to clarify misconceptions and reduce possible adverse events.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lebanese pharmacists’ knowledge of generic drugs and factors affecting their use and selection following the pandemic and the economic crisis: A pilot cross-sectional study

Mansour,

Hatem,

Ballout

et al. 2023

Journal of Generic Medicines

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Patients’ perceptions of community pharmacists’ role: A cross-sectional study in Lebanon

Kalash,

Hatem,

Chaheen

et al. 2024

Journal of Generic Medicines

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction Recognizing, fostering, and maintaining a favorable public image is crucial for developing strong connections between patients and pharmacists, ultimately enhancing the pharmacist’s influence on healthcare results. Consequently, this research seeks to evaluate how the community perceives the role of pharmacists in Lebanon. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among the Lebanese residents over 2 months. One-way analysis of variance assessed the relationship between the perception score and the general characteristics of the study sample. A multivariate analysis was performed using linear regression models to evaluate the combined effect of predictors on the perception score. Results The study comprised exclusively Lebanese participants, with a slightly higher proportion of males (53.4%) than females (46.6%) and a diverse age distribution, ranging from 18 to 65 years old, with 9.1% being 65 years or older. After adjusting for covariates, females scored 0.25 points lower than males (CI (−0.65, 0.15); p = .217), while individuals aged 40–49 and 50–65 had perception scores of 0.18 and 0.55 points lower than those aged 18–29, respectively (CI (−0.83, 0.48); p = .595 and CI (−1.29, 0.20); p = .153, respectively). Participants from Nabatiyeh had a perception score increase of 0.82 compared to those in Beirut (CI (0.15–1.49); p < .017), and those working in non-medical fields scored 0.90 points lower than others (CI (−1.49, −0.32); p = .002). Individuals with at least one comorbidity scored 0.83 points lower (CI (−1.44, −0.21); p = .008), while patients with public insurance and those with a treatment duration of 6 months had perception scores 0.57 and 0.66 points lower, respectively, compared to their counterparts (CI (−1.12, −0.03); p = .039 and CI (−1.29, −0.03); p = .040). Conclusion Findings stress the significance of tailored healthcare and consistent patient-pharmacist relationships, especially for managing complex conditions, underscoring the importance of understanding these dynamics to bolster trust and appreciation for community pharmacists in Lebanon.

show abstract

Assessment of community pharmacists’ knowledge of the differences between generic drugs and biosimilars: A pilot cross-sectional study

Cited by 2 publications

References 31 publications

Lebanese pharmacists’ knowledge of generic drugs and factors affecting their use and selection following the pandemic and the economic crisis: A pilot cross-sectional study

Lebanese pharmacists’ knowledge of generic drugs and factors affecting their use and selection following the pandemic and the economic crisis: A pilot cross-sectional study

Patients’ perceptions of community pharmacists’ role: A cross-sectional study in Lebanon

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About