Physicians’ perception of generic and electronic prescribing: A descriptive study from Jordan

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate Jordanian physicians’ perception and attitudes toward generic medicines and generic substitution. It also aimed to examine factors that affect physicians’ pattern of prescribing, and to evaluate their opinion regarding future introduction of Electronic Prescribing (EP) in Jordan.MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive study involving Jordanian physicians working in both public and private sectors was undertaken, using a self-administrated anonymous questionnaire. Frequency tables, cross-tabulation and chi square tests were used for data analysis. The response rate was 75.2% (n = 376/500).ResultsCost was claimed to be an important factor in the prescribing decision for 69.1% of the Jordanian physicians. The majority of physicians (77.4%) claimed that they often prescribe generic medicines. Jordanian physicians predominantly welcomed the implementation of an EP and International Nonproprietary Name (INN) prescribing systems with 92%, and 80.1% respectively. More than two thirds of the physicians (69.4%) accepted generic substitution by pharmacists, with a significant association with their employment sector; physicians who work in the private sector tended to oppose generic substitution compared with physicians who work in the public sector. Physicians mostly (72.1%) opposed that generic substitution should only be allowed upon patient request.ConclusionsJordanian physicians have a positive attitude towards generic medications and high willingness and acceptance of strategies that encourage generic utilisation such as EP, INN prescribing and generic substitution. All these strategies would help reduce the high expenditure on medicines in Jordan. These findings would provide baseline data to policy makers to develop a robust generic policy to achieve greater clinical effectiveness and economic efficiency from medicines prescribing.

Factors Affecting Physician’s Adherence to Generic Drug Prescribing Practice in Private Health Facilities, Mekelle City, Northeastern Ethiopia

“…From the current study 72% of physicians claimed that they always prescribe generic medicine, which is slightly lower than the study finding in Ghana which revealed 79.2 % of medicines prescribed by generic name, the reason for the difference of the two finding may be a study conducted in Ghana only consider antibiotic but the current study couldn't specify medicine group, the other study conducted in Jordan depicted that from the physician's 62.8% (often) and 14.6% (very often) prescribe generic medicine instead of an originator brand which is comparable with our findings. 35,36 In the current study, 28% of physician claimed that brand medicines are safer than generic medicine which is comparable with one systematic review that showed a greater proportion of doctors (836/2928, 28.54%, 95%) believed that generic medicines are equally safer with brand medicine. In this review significantly higher proportion of physicians held the view that generic drugs were less effective than their brand name equivalents (1450/5056; 28.68%) but in the current study, 34% of physician's couldn't accept locally produced medicines as equally effective as original brand medicines.…”

“…Another study in Malaysia revealed cost of drugs 31(88.6%) and socio-economics status of the patients 16(45.7%) are factors that influences clinicians prescribing intent; this is lower than that of the current study likewise, the study was done in Jordan showed 58.5% of physician's believed that the cost is important, 10.6% believed that the cost is highly important, whereas 30.9% of the physicians believed that the cost is not important at all but the result of Jordan study also a bit higher than from that of our study. 35,39 The difference in study participants, sample size and medicine specification could be the probable reason for the difference in findings. From the current study above half 27 (58%) of the physicians strongly agreed or agreed that they prescribe brand medicines due to the medical representative influence which is higher than the study conducted previously in similar study area which reports 40 (48.2%) of the physicians believed that their prescribing behaviors were influenced by visits of MRs and reports from Kentucky physicians indicated that they used information supplied by pharmaceutical representatives in their clinical practice 5.4% daily, 31.3% weekly, 47.7% monthly, and 14.4% yearly.…”

“…28 Physicians' prescribing practice can also be influenced by pharmaceutical manufacturers through a variety of incentives such as high-end education programs or even some cash payment for prescriptions. 29 In addition, free samples and gifts can also be provided 30 so that a targeted drug's name stays topmost in subconscious mind of the prescribers. 31 Therefore, these incentives may indirectly influence the patients, by encouraging them to use costly originator products instead of in the same way effective, lower-cost generics.…”

The Influence of Information, Brand, Medical Representatives and Sales Promotion on Physician Prescribing Decision

“…However, this conventional belief is gradually challenged, as latest empirical studies have shown that MRs do not always influence prescribing behaviour [20] and are related to irrational prescribing of medications. [45] Eldahiyat et al [46] reported that drug sales representatives claimed to be of least importance in the drug prescribing decision. Thus, the perception portrayed in literature is not as clear as it may seem at first glance.…”

Knowledge and Attitude Toward E-Pharmacy Among the Physicians of South Rajasthan, India: A Pilot Survey

“…A higher male/female ratio showed that the participation was slightly higher by male physicians compared to females. A study by El-Dahiyat et al also showed similar results with higher number of male physicians [15]. In Alfahad et al study which focused on consumer's perception, more than half of the respondents were male [12].…”