Håkonsen Helle, Wängberg Maria, Alani Dina, Hedenrud Tove
School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 453, 405 30 Gothenburg, SE Sweden.
J Pharm Policy Pract. 2020 Oct 1;13:60. doi: 10.1186/s40545-020-00269-5. eCollection 2020.
Due to a liberalisation reform in 2009, the availability of over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics has increased significantly in the Swedish market over the past decade. With the increasing number of generic products available on the market and the possibility of buying OTC drugs from non-pharmacy outlets, a key to safe drug use is that consumers possess the necessary knowledge to differentiate between the different brands and choose the appropriate drug for their ailments. The aim of this study was to investigate Swedish consumers' knowledge of and attitudes towards generic OTC analgesics.
A sample of 209 Swedish adults (66% women; mean age 43.1 years) who bought OTC analgesics at a community pharmacy in one of the country's three largest cities responded to a structured questionnaire. The questions related to knowledge of active substances, the use and choice of OTC analgesics (generic or original brand), attitudes towards generic OTC analgesics, information received about OTC analgesics and experience with generic substitution of prescription drugs.
Almost one in five reported weekly use of OTC analgesics, and 32% assigned minimum three out of four active substances to the correct brand(s) of OTC analgesics. Among the 50 participants (24%) who assigned all four active substances correctly, it was predominantly women and participants with higher education. Four out of five participants were positive towards the cheaper brands, and 69% reportedly chose cheaper generic brands over more expensive brands. Knowledge about the active substances of different brands was associated with positive attitudes towards generic products.
Swedish pharmacy customers have to a varying extent the knowledge to differentiate between different brands of commonly used OTC analgesics in terms of active substances. There is a predominantly positive attitude towards generic OTC analgesics, although some consider generic drugs to be inferior and stay loyal to the original brands.
由于2009年的一项自由化改革，在过去十年中，瑞典市场上非处方（OTC）镇痛药的可获得性显著增加。随着市场上通用产品数量的增加以及从非药店购买非处方药的可能性，安全用药的一个关键是消费者具备必要的知识，以区分不同品牌并为自己的疾病选择合适的药物。本研究的目的是调查瑞典消费者对通用OTC镇痛药的了解和态度。
从瑞典三大城市之一的一家社区药房购买OTC镇痛药的209名瑞典成年人（66%为女性；平均年龄43.1岁）作为样本，回答一份结构化问卷。问题涉及活性物质的知识、OTC镇痛药（通用或原品牌）的使用和选择、对通用OTC镇痛药的态度、收到的有关OTC镇痛药的信息以及处方药通用替代的经验。
近五分之一的人报告每周使用OTC镇痛药，32%的人将四种活性物质中的至少三种与正确的OTC镇痛药品牌对应起来。在50名（24%）正确对应所有四种活性物质的参与者中，主要是女性和受过高等教育的参与者。五分之四的参与者对较便宜的品牌持积极态度，据报道69%的人选择较便宜的通用品牌而不是较贵的品牌。对不同品牌活性物质的了解与对通用产品的积极态度相关。
瑞典药房顾客在一定程度上具备根据活性物质区分常用OTC镇痛药不同品牌的知识。对通用OTC镇痛药的态度总体上是积极的，尽管有些人认为通用药物质量较差并忠于原品牌。
