Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Generic Drugs Among Doctors in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: Generic medicines constitute an important aspect of affordable health care. “JAN AUSHADHI” campaign was started by the Government of India in 2008 to support generic prescriptions. Recently, medical council of India had requested all clinicians for generic prescriptions. With this background, this study was undertaken to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of generic medicines among doctors.
 Methods: It was a cross-sectional, prospective, questionnaire-based study. After obtaining institute permission, validated questionnaires were distributed to different clinical departments at Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru. With gentle reminders in between, filled forms were collected after 7 days.
 Results: Mean age of the participants was 29.05±17.81 years. Out of 250 questionnaires distributed, 156 were returned back without responding. The response rate was 62.4%. Out of 156, 35 (22.43%) were intern medical officers, 89 (57.05%) were post-graduates, and 32 (20.51%) were faculty members. Regarding knowledge, the mean score was 6.24±0.17. 52 (33.33%) participants had good knowledge, 73 (46.79%) had average knowledge, and 31 (19.87%) had poor knowledge about generic medicines. Generics were prescribed by 90 (57.69%) participants. Most of the clinicians (66.02%) felt that prescribing in generics is not a burden on them provided government ensured the quality control of drugs. 121 (77.56%) stated that the socioeconomic status of the patient is an important factor while prescribing generics. 136 (87.17%) felt that generics bring down the treatment costs.
 Conclusion: This study shows that participants were well aware about generic drugs. As opined by the clinicians, a national level online reference must be made available.

The unified medical prescription as a tool to promote generic prescription: A cross-sectional study addressing physicians’ perception in Lebanon

“…Prasad et al reported that about 61% doctors permitted the patients to substitute generic for a brand or vice-versa and reported that 49.0% patients disapproved the generic substitution. 27,28 The pricing strategies of medicines in Lebanon had also a great influence in promoting generic drugs because these strategies pressure the pharmaceutical companies to lower the price of the brand name drugs to compete with the generics which therefore discourage generic substitution for those drugs whose prices have become similar to their generic equivalents. Consequently, we have an inappropriate medicine prices and pricing systems to promote generic medicine.…”

“…6 Some studies propose essential suggestions to promote generic drug substitution which include the presence of supportive regulations promoting a competitive market for generic drugs, creation of a trusted regulatory authority for medicines, capacity of quality assurance, and acceptance by health professional and the public. 21,30–32 Also, the removing of incentives to use branded drugs as a way to increase prescription of generic medicines as suggested in a Danish study. 33 Using the active ingredient for prescribing could be a good suggestion to increase the promotion of generics.…”

Opinion of primary care physicians regarding prescription of generic drugs

“…reported that 49.0% patients disapproved the generic substitution. [ 29 31 ] This study reported about 61% physicians strongly agreed or agreed that generics are equally effective as brand. The study results were at par with the studies reported by Singh et al .…”

“…[ 24 25 26 ] Contrarily, literature search also shows a few studies conducted in India with inadequate knowledge and perception of the doctors towards the generics. [ 27 28 29 30 ] As there was inconsistency with the evidence, this study was planned to assess knowledge and perception of generic drugs among doctors. Objective was to study knowledge and perception about generic drugs among the practicing primary care physicians and highlight the factors influencing practice of prescription of generics.…”

Analisis Tingkat Pengetahuan dan Sikap Apoteker terhadap Obat Generik di Wilayah Kabupaten Banyumas

“…Oleh sebab itu apoteker harus memiliki pengetahuan dan sikap yang baik terhadap obat generik untuk dapat mendukung penggunaanya. Pada beberapa penelitian yang pernah dilakukan menunjukkan bahwa terdapat pengetahuan dan sikap yang beragam terhadap obat generik, apoteker komunitas di Karachi Pakistan memiliki pengetahuan baik, apoteker komunitas di Kuwait memiliki pengetahuan kurang, dan sebanyak 46,79% dokter di Tertiary Care Hospital memiliki pengetahuan cukup (Al Hussaini et al, 2018;Jamshed et al, 2010;Prasad et al, 2019). Kemudian penelitian terdahulu juga menunjukkan bahwa sebagian besar apoteker di Palestina dan Kuwait memiliki sikap positif, sedangkan apoteker komunitas di Karachi Pakistan memiliki sikap beragam (Al Hussaini et al, 2018;Jamshed et al,2010;Shraim et al, 2017).…”