Alkhuzaee, FS, Almalki, HM, Attar, AY et al. (4 more authors) (2016) Evaluating community pharmacists’ perspectives and practices concerning generic medicines substitution in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Health Policy, 120 (2). pp. 1412-1419. ISSN 0168-8510
Abstract
Objectives: To assess the community pharmacists’ knowledge, attitude, perception and current practices towards generic medicines substitution in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and March 2016 in the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia. A 25-item, structured, validated, pilot-tested and self-completed questionnaire was used to achieve study objectives. A 4-step systematic sampling technique was used to recruit community pharmacists. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: Of 128 community pharmacists approached, 121 participated in the study (response rate = 95%). Majority of the participants (n = 108; 89.3%) had graduated from Egypt, were working as staff pharmacists (n = 85; 70%) and had BPharm degree (97; 80.2%). Only 26 (22%) of the participants correctly answered all knowledge questions accurately. No statistically significant difference in total knowledge score was observed across different sociodemographic characteristics of participants (all P > 0.05).Two-thirds of the respondents (83; 68.2%) supported the use of generic substitution. Medicines cost and patients’ request were the most commonly cited reasons for performing generic substitution. Country of graduation (P = 0.01) and number of years of practicing in Saudi Arabia (P = 0.02) was associated with the pharmacists’ support towards generic substitution. Conclusion: The community pharmacists had clear knowledge deficits about generic medicines and their substitution which may partly explain low consumption of generic medicines in Saudi Arabia. Healthcare policy makers need to improve awareness about the safety and efficacy of generic medicines and promote their use in order to cut down cost of medicines and overall healthcare expenditure.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Health Policy. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Community pharmacists; Generic medicines; Health Policy; Saudi Arabia; Cost saving |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Healthcare (Leeds) > Nursing Adult (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 08 Dec 2016 11:03 |
Last Modified: | 11 Oct 2017 02:39 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2016.09.018 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.healthpol.2016.09.018 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:109162 |