Choi Eunjung, Shin Gyeongseon, Bae SeungJin
College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Front Pharmacol. 2025 Mar 14;16:1551451. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1551451. eCollection 2025.
Biosimilars offer a promising solution to challenges related to healthcare budget sustainability. However, limited patient awareness and understanding often hinder their timely adoption. This cross-sectional survey evaluates the perceptions, preferences, and experiences of South Korean patients regarding biosimilars.
An anonymous, self-administered, web-based survey comprising up to 26 questions was conducted. Participants were recruited from Ewha Womans University Medical Centers from November 2023 to August 2024. The analysis focused on respondents with medical conditions typically treated with biologics, such as solid tumors, blood cancers, and autoimmune diseases.
Out of 133 responses, 100 were analyzed after excluding 33 individuals with irrelevant medical conditions. Among these, 66% had heard of biosimilars, primarily through the internet (28.8%, 19 out of 66). However, 55% were unfamiliar with the definition of biosimilars, and 61% did not understand the difference between generics and biosimilars. While most respondents considered biosimilars comparable to originators in terms of safety (45%) and efficacy (41%), the primary concerns were a lack of confidence in their safety (50%) and efficacy (50%). Among patients who exclusively used either originators or biosimilars, 91.7% and 95%, respectively, cited their doctors' recommendations as the main reason for choosing their treatment.
Patients primarily rely on doctors' recommendations, yet their awareness and understanding of biosimilars remain limited. To enhance positive perceptions of biosimilars among patients, implementing diverse educational programs and actively involving a multidisciplinary health team is essential. Such initiatives will not only increase patient access to these treatments but also contribute to the long-term sustainability of healthcare systems by encouraging the broader adoption of biosimilars.
生物类似药为应对医疗保健预算可持续性相关挑战提供了一个有前景的解决方案。然而，患者认知和理解有限常常阻碍其及时应用。这项横断面调查评估了韩国患者对生物类似药的看法、偏好和体验。
开展了一项基于网络的匿名自填式调查，问卷包含多达26个问题。2023年11月至2024年8月期间从梨花女子大学医学中心招募参与者。分析聚焦于患有通常使用生物制剂治疗的疾病（如实体瘤、血癌和自身免疫性疾病）的受访者。
在133份回复中，排除33名患有不相关疾病的个体后，对100份进行了分析。其中，66%听说过生物类似药，主要是通过互联网（28.8%，66人中的19人）。然而，55%不熟悉生物类似药的定义，61%不理解仿制药和生物类似药之间的区别。虽然大多数受访者认为生物类似药在安全性（45%）和疗效（41%）方面与原研药相当，但主要担忧是对其安全性（50%）和疗效（50%）缺乏信心。在仅使用原研药或生物类似药的患者中，分别有91.7%和95%表示医生的建议是他们选择治疗的主要原因。
患者主要依赖医生的建议，然而他们对生物类似药的认知和理解仍然有限。为了增强患者对生物类似药的积极看法，实施多样化的教育项目并积极让多学科医疗团队参与至关重要。此类举措不仅将增加患者获得这些治疗的机会，还将通过鼓励更广泛地采用生物类似药为医疗保健系统的长期可持续性做出贡献。
