Dunne Suzanne S, Shannon Bill, Cullen Walter, Dunne Colum P
Centre for Interventions in Infection, Inflammation and Immunity (4i), Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Fam Pract. 2014 Aug;31(4):467-74. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmu024. Epub 2014 Jun 3.
To benefit from cost-savings associated with generic medicine use; in June 2013, Ireland introduced generic substitution and reference pricing. The attitudes and behaviours of health care professionals may influence successful implementation of such changes.
To assess perceptions of GPs in Ireland regarding generic medicines in the time leading up to the enactment of the new legislation and for the first time in at least the prior decade.
Detailed one-to-one semi-structured interviews performed with a representative cohort of 34 urban- and rural-based GPs in Ireland.
Thirty of the participating 34 GPs prescribed generic medicines actively. Predominantly, participants believed that generics worked as effectively, and were of the same quality, as originator medicines. However, 32 GPs reported receiving patient complaints regarding generics; almost a third reported complaints of increased or altered side effects. Thirty-two GPs stated that they would take a generic medicine, although one in seven would choose the originator if offered a choice. A minority of GPs were of the view that generics are manufactured to a poorer quality than originators and may be a risk to patient safety.
This study of GPs' attitudes towards generic medicines in Ireland highlights that this key stakeholder group has generally positive attitudes towards both generic medicines and the new legislation. However, variable knowledge about generic medicines and concerns regarding patient experience, clinical effectiveness and manufacturing quality were identified. GPs' opinions could negatively influence patient opinions; enhancing such opinions may prove important in successfully implementing the new legislation.
为了从使用仿制药节省成本中获益，2013年6月，爱尔兰引入了仿制药替代和参考定价制度。医疗保健专业人员的态度和行为可能会影响此类变革的成功实施。
评估在新立法颁布前以及至少在过去十年中首次对爱尔兰全科医生（GP）对仿制药的看法。
对爱尔兰34名城乡全科医生的代表性队列进行了详细的一对一结构化访谈。
参与的34名全科医生中有30名积极开仿制药。主要地，参与者认为仿制药与原研药效果相同，质量也相同。然而，32名全科医生报告收到患者关于仿制药的投诉；近三分之一报告有副作用增加或改变的投诉。32名全科医生表示他们会服用仿制药，尽管七分之一的人如果有选择会选择原研药。少数全科医生认为仿制药的生产质量比原研药差，可能对患者安全构成风险。
这项对爱尔兰全科医生对仿制药态度的研究表明，这个关键利益相关者群体对仿制药和新立法总体上持积极态度。然而，发现了对仿制药的了解存在差异以及对患者体验、临床疗效和生产质量的担忧。全科医生的意见可能会对患者意见产生负面影响；增强这些意见可能对成功实施新立法很重要。
