Understanding and perceptions of final-year Doctor of Pharmacy students about generic medicines in Karachi, Pakistan: a quantitative insight

Jamshed, Shazia Qasim and Ibrahim, Mohamad Izham Mohamad and Hassali, Mohamad Azmi and Sharrad, Adheed Khalid and Shafie, Asrul Akmal and Babar, Zaheer-Ud-Din (2015) Understanding and perceptions of final-year Doctor of Pharmacy students about generic medicines in Karachi, Pakistan: a quantitative insight. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 6. pp. 359-366. ISSN 1179-7258

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Abstract

General objective: To evaluate the understanding and perceptions of generic medicines among final-year Doctor of Pharmacy students in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: A 23-item survey instrument that included a question on the bioequivalence limits and Likert-type scale questions regarding the understanding and perceptions of generic medicines among the students was executed. Cronbach’s alpha was found to be 0.62. Results: Responses were obtained from 236 final-year Doctor of Pharmacy students (n=85 from a publicly funded institute; n=151 from a privately funded institute). When comparing a brand-name medicine to a generic medicine, pharmacy students scored poorly on bioequivalence limits. More than 80% of the students incorrectly answered that all the products that are rated as generic equivalents are therapeutically equivalent to each other (P,0.04). Half of the students agreed that a generic medicine is bioequivalent to the brand-name medicine (P,0.001). With regard to quality, effectiveness, and safety, more than 75% of the students disagreed that generic medicines are of inferior quality and are less effective than brand-name medicines (P,0.001). More than 50% of the students disagreed that generic medicines produce more side effects than brand-name medicines (P,0.001). Conclusion: The current study identified a positive perception toward generic medicines but also gaps in the understanding of generic medicines. Pharmacy students lacked a thorough understanding of the concepts of bioequivalence. Pharmacy academia should address these issues, which will help build confidence in generic medicines and increase the generic medicine

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	6803/43052
Uncontrolled Keywords:	safety, curriculum, efficacy
Subjects:	R Medicine > RS Pharmacy and materia medica
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Pharmacy > Department of Pharmacy Practice
Depositing User:	Dr Shazia Jamshed
Date Deposited:	26 May 2015 09:41
Last Modified:	20 Jun 2017 08:39
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/43052

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