Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of generic medicines among the interns and post graduate dental students: comparison with medical practitioners

Sukhpreet Kaur

doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20203626

Authors

Sukhpreet Kaur Department of Pharmacology, Dasmesh Institute of Research and Dental Sciences, Faridkot, Punjab, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20203626

Keywords:

Generic medicines, Dental practitioners, Knowledge assessment

Abstract

Background: India is one of the highest per capita out-of-pocket health expenditures (62%) country and use of generics can save a lot of money which can be used for other health issues. Lack of knowledge about cost effectiveness of generic medicines among the health-care professionals had led to a low rate of generic medicine prescription. The objective of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice of dental students towards the generic medicines.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using questions from pretested and validated questionnaire which are applicable to Indian scenario. A 22 items questionnaire were distributed to the participants to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice of generic medicine. All the Interns and MDS students were included in this study. The collected data was analyzed using microsoft excel.

Results: 63.4% participants agreed generics can be interchanged with a branded drug. 89.74% participants were aware that bioequivalence studies are conducted by generic manufacturers for all the marketed generic medicines. Mostly participants (78.04%) were of opinion that generic medicines do not produce greater side effects than branded drugs. 54.05% participants reported that they were prescribing generic medicines. 52.38% participants were aware that generic medicine contains the same active substances as that innovator and used at same dose to treat same disease.

Conclusions: In our study, we found that the prescribers had a considerable knowledge regarding the concept of generic medicines. However, to further increase the rate of generic medicine prescription training programs on generic medicines should be organized.

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Author Biography

Sukhpreet Kaur, Department of Pharmacology, Dasmesh Institute of Research and Dental Sciences, Faridkot, Punjab, India

Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology

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