IJCM_227A: Perception and attitude towards Generic drug prescription among Medical Undergraduates of Mangalore

Abstract

Background: The assessment of future doctor’s perceptions and understanding about generic medicines may help in recognizing possible barriers to greater generic medicine usage. This study was done to explore and evaluate the perceptions and attitudes towards prescribing generic drugs among medical undergraduates of Mangalore and the factors associated with it. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among Undergraduate Medical students of KMC, Mangalore. The data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Results were expressed in tables and figures. The chi-square test was used for comparison across the groups, and p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study was conducted among 282 students, with a mean age of 21 years. More than half of the participants,51.4%(n=145) were VI semester students. A higher proportion of them,72% were aware that generic medicine contains the same active substance(s) as the brand medicine, and 75.2% were aware that generic drug manufacturers need to conduct bioequivalence studies to show equivalence between the generic medicine and the branded medicine. Overall,64.9% agreed that generics are safe and 80.9% students think that there should be a training program to increase the awareness regarding generic drugs among doctors and patients. Conclusion: Although a good percentage of students had adequate knowledge about generic medicines; there was a significant proportion that expressed concerns about the same. These beliefs could represent a major hurdle to larger generic use and could lead to increased health-care expenses.

Keywords

• generic medicines
• perception
• attitude
• medical students
• health care