School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece.
Nursing Department, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
BMC Med Educ. 2018 Nov 15;18(1):262. doi: 10.1186/s12909-018-1379-8.
The penetration of generic medicines in the pharmaceutical market is influenced, among others, by the consumer's attitude upon them. The attitude of students in health management and recent alumni is particularly important, as they constitute tomorrow's policymakers. The aim of our study was to assess their attitude, perception and knowledge towards generic medicines.
A cross-sectional study was undertaken, involving students in Health Management and recent alumni. The ATtitude TOwards GENerics (ATTOGEN) validated questionnaire was used, which consists of 18 items, yielding 6 scales (trust, state audit, knowledge, drug quality, drug substitution and fiscal impact), with all item responses expressed on a 5-point Likert scale and higher scores denoting greater disagreement. Correlation coefficients were computed and independent sample tests were performed using non-parametrical statistical methods.
A total of 1402 students were interviewed, with a female predominance (62.88%). The mean (SD) scores for the six scales of the ATTOGEN questionnaire were: Trust: 2.877 (0.940), State audit: 3.251 (0.967), Knowledge: 1.537 (0.688), Drug quality: 2.708 (0.971), Drug substitution: 3.828 (1.127) and Fiscal impact: 2.299 (0.860). Trust over generics was statistically significantly associated with all ATTOGEN scales (all p < 0.001). In addition, the increased level of knowledge about generics was associated with recognition of the generic medicines' quality equivalence (p < 0.001) and positive fiscal impact (p = 0.018). Pharmacists declared having a superior knowledge of generic medicines, being more satisfied with the information they receive about them and strongly believing in drug substitution (p < 0.001). Comparatively to other professionals, pharmacists also indicated substantial differences between branded and generic medicines more often (p < 0.001). They also argued to a greater extent that generic medicines were invented and promoted to resolve the financial crisis of social security institutions at the expense of citizens (p < 0.001).
This study demonstrated a mixed attitude of students regarding generic medicines. Trust and knowledge emerged as key factors shaping the students' attitude towards generics. Among students, pharmacists exhibited a distinct response pattern. This study underlines the importance of addressing and correcting health management students' misbeliefs about generics' quality and utility.
仿制药在医药市场的渗透受到消费者对其态度等因素的影响。卫生管理专业学生和应届毕业生的态度尤为重要，因为他们是未来的政策制定者。我们的研究旨在评估他们对仿制药的态度、看法和知识。
本研究采用横断面研究，纳入卫生管理专业学生和应届毕业生。使用经过验证的 ATtitude TOwards GENerics（ATTOGEN）问卷，该问卷包含 18 个项目，产生 6 个量表（信任、国家审计、知识、药品质量、药品替代和财政影响），所有项目的反应均采用 5 点 Likert 量表表示，得分越高表示越不同意。计算相关系数，并使用非参数统计方法进行独立样本检验。
共对 1402 名学生进行了访谈，女性占多数（62.88%）。ATTOGEN 问卷六个量表的平均（SD）得分分别为：信任：2.877（0.940）、国家审计：3.251（0.967）、知识：1.537（0.688）、药品质量：2.708（0.971）、药品替代：3.828（1.127）和财政影响：2.299（0.860）。对仿制药的信任与 ATTOGEN 所有量表均有统计学显著关联（均 P<0.001）。此外，对仿制药知识水平的提高与对仿制药质量等效性的认识（P<0.001）和对财政影响的正面认识（P=0.018）有关。药剂师表示对仿制药有更高的认识，对他们收到的关于仿制药的信息更满意，并强烈相信药品替代（P<0.001）。与其他专业人士相比，药剂师也更频繁地指出品牌药和仿制药之间存在显著差异（P<0.001）。他们还认为，仿制药是为了解决社会保险机构的财务危机而发明和推广的，牺牲了公民的利益（P<0.001）。
本研究表明学生对仿制药的态度喜忧参半。信任和知识是影响学生对仿制药态度的关键因素。在学生中，药剂师表现出了截然不同的反应模式。本研究强调了纠正卫生管理专业学生对仿制药质量和用途的误解的重要性。
