Evaluating pharmacists’ views, knowledge, and perception regarding generic medicines in New Zealand
| Autor: | Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar, Michele Hogg, Piyush Grover, Joanna Stewart, Leanne Short, Hee Gyung Seo, Anne Rew |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2011 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
Male Health Knowledge Attitudes Practice medicine.medical_specialty Attitude of Health Personnel health care facilities manpower and services media_common.quotation_subject education Alternative medicine Pharmaceutical Science Pharmacy Community Pharmacy Services Pharmacists Drug Prescriptions Advertising campaign Surveys and Questionnaires health services administration Health care Agency (sociology) medicine Drugs Generic Humans Quality (business) health care economics and organizations media_common Pharmacies Response rate (survey) business.industry Cross-Sectional Studies Therapeutic Equivalency Family medicine Female Perception Willingness to recommend business New Zealand |
| Zdroj: | Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. 7:294-305 |
| ISSN: | 1551-7411 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.sapharm.2010.06.004 |
| Popis: | Background Generic medicines are commonly used in New Zealand; however, Pharmaceutical Management Agency of New Zealand (PHARMAC) has indicated a need for better information to the public. Studies on consumers’ perceptions suggest that pharmacists play an important role in consumers’ choice; hence, “quality use of generic medicines” can be promoted with a better understanding of pharmacists’ views, knowledge, and perception. Objectives (1)To evaluate pharmacists’ perceptions, views, and knowledge of and willingness to recommend generic medicines. (2) To explore pharmacists perceptions of the safety, quality, and efficacy of generic medicines. (3) To assess pharmacists’ views on current policy with respect to substitution of generic medicines. Methods A cross-sectional survey using a postal questionnaire was conducted, and questionnaires were sent to 625 randomly selected pharmacists from a list of 1594 pharmacists who had agreed to release their details for research purposes. Results Three-hundred and sixty pharmacists responded to the questionnaire (a response rate of 58%). Seventy percent of pharmacists stated there is no difference in safety between original brand and generic medicines. However, 65% stated that original brand medicines were of higher quality than their generic counterparts, and half stated that generic medicines and original brand medicines are equally effective. A large number of pharmacists reported concerns regarding brand substitution and offered suggestions, such as the need for advertising campaigns, patient pamphlets, updating prescribers’ software, and distinct packaging for generic medicines. It was found that pharmacists’ perceptions of generic medicines are primarily driven by PHARMACs policies and their experiences with consumers. Conclusions About one-third of pharmacists correctly defined the term “generic medicines,” suggesting discrepancies in pharmacists’ knowledge and perceptions of generic medicines. Concerns were raised regarding: quality, safety, and effectiveness; however, most of the pharmacists acknowledged the economic benefits to the health care system. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|
Full Text from ScienceDirect