Taiwanese Perceptions and Attitudes of Brand Name and Generic Medications PDF Download

Author: Hsingwen Chung
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Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Goal: The overall goal of the study was to explore consumer perceptions and attitudes about brand name drugs and generic drugs in Taiwan. Bivariate associations were investigated among perceptions, attitudes, anticipated actions (thoughts), knowledge, and experiences with brand name and generic drugs. Methods: The sampling frame was three hospitals in Taiwan: Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH); China Medical University Hospital (CMUH); and Chien-Yu Hospital (CYH). A non-disguised, self-administered survey questionnaire was used to collect data from patients at waiting areas near a pharmacy or clinic in these three hospitals that had heard of brand name or generic drugs. For subject recruitment, a 'Push' or 'Pull' strategy was used in purposive or judgmental sampling, with the researcher taking initiative to reach out to patients randomly or setting up a poster in the waiting area to invite potential survey participants, respectively. The sample size was determined based on the nonparametric contingency table analyses too accomplish study goals. Respondents completed and returned the questionnaires onsite and were given a 7-ELEVEN gift card worth $100 in Taiwan currency as a token. For statistical analysis, perceived effectiveness, perceived quality and attitudes were categorized dichotomously to 'favorable for brand name' and 'generics not inferior to brands.' Two separate categorizations were used to group respondents into low, medium, and high knowledge groups based on one set of 7 questions about characteristics and features associated with brand name or generic drugs and a second set of 4 questions related to similarities and differences between brand name and generic drugs. Results: Data collection between March 19th and April 12th 2018 achieved 517 questionnaires for analysis (TSGH=200, CMUH=203, CYH=114). Only about 40 percent of the hospital patients contacted to participate reported that they had heard of brand name or generic drugs. The average age of respondents was 48 years old and more than half (53.0%) had no chronic disease prescriptions. Among respondents who could report whether or not they had had drugs prescribed for them, 235 (179) had experienced a brand name (generic) drug being prescribed and 45 (61) did not have experience. Among a subset of 91 respondents that had a brand name drugs ever switched to a generic drug, 55 reported same therapeutic effects and 57 reported no difference in adverse effects after the switch. For perceived effectiveness, about 40 to 60 percent of respondents associated the effectiveness features or characteristics with brand name drugs and less than 10% associated those characteristics with generic drugs. For perceived quality, respondents were more likely to have the perspective that manufacturer's reputation (53.4%) and being produced in quality facilities (61.1%) were associated with brand name drugs. For attitudes, 57% to 65% of the respondents associated confidence, satisfaction and comfort with brand name drugs. For the knowledge questions about characteristics of drugs, about 70% knew that brand name drugs have higher prices or higher costs. About 60 and 65 % knew that brand name drugs go through R & D and more likely were made by foreign manufacturers, respectively. For knowledge questions on similarities and differences between brand name and generic drugs, approximately three-fourths of the respondents understood correctly that these two types of medications are therapeutically interchangeable. Slightly fewer, 59% and 63% agreed that the two have the same dosage and active ingredient, respectively. In the bivariate analyses, perceptions and attitudes were significantly associated in expected directions, higher perceptions for effectiveness for brand name drugs matched higher perceptions for quality and positive attitudes toward brand name drugs. Perceptions or attitudes also were associated with knowledge and with corresponding anticipated actions about a generic switch (accept vs. not) or paying out-of-pocket costs for branded drugs. For experiences with having been prescribed brand name or generic drugs, only being prescribed brand name drugs was associated with attitudes (more favorable attitude with experience). Higher knowledge level based on questions about similarities and differences between brand name and generic drugs was associated with accepting a generic switch and not wanting to pay out-of-pocket costs for branded drugs. Respondents with higher knowledge also more often reported perceiving no subsequent difference in effectiveness or adverse effects after experiencing a generic switch. Conclusion: A considerable proportion of Taiwanese consumer respondents had positive perceptions of effectiveness and quality, plus attitudes toward brand name drugs and these perceptions and attitudes were also associated with corresponding anticipated actions about a generic switch or paying their own costs for branded drugs. However, there appears to be a substantial gap in consumer awareness and understanding of brand name and generic drugs. Governmental administrators in Taiwan may benefit from education and promotion to help consumers feel confident about using generic drugs.