Exploring community pharmacists’ knowledge, perception and experiences towards branded and generic medicines in Kuwait: Highlighting the role of pharmacist

Abstract

Background

Substituting brand drugs with generic drugs without affecting patients’ health is considered a cost-effective measure to reduce health care expenditure.

Objectives

The study was designed to explore the community pharmacists’ knowledge, perception and experiences toward generic drug substitution and highlight the role of pharmacist in practicing substitution.

Method

A descriptive cross sectional survey among community pharmacists was carried out in Kuwait. A validated questionnaires consisting of 3 sections with total of 22 questions were distributed to 180 pharmacists and collected after 3–5 days.

Results

Less than half of respondents (46.1%) thought that generic drugs are equivalent to the original brands. 60% of pharmacists believed that OTC are as effective as brands while only 42% agreed that generic drugs can be as effective as brand for chronic diseases. Pharmacists agreed that brands have more strength variety (74%), better packaging (72%) and more expensive (66.2%) than generic. Most of the pharmacists agreed on stocking brand (88%) and generic (72%). Also 81% and 62% agreed that drug price and doctor’s opinion could affect patients’ choice, alternatively. 88% of pharmacists would recommend generic substitutes when brands are not available. Whereas 45% would try to persuade patients to shift to a brand when patient is unsatisfied with the generic. Pharmacists were more confident in recommending generic OTC drugs than the branded counterpart for chronic diseases (p = 0.001).

Conclusion

A national brand substitution policy should be formulated and implemented to assist pharmacists in the proper substitution practice and to help minimize the healthcare costs.