To evaluate the impact of an educational program on knowledge and perceptions of physicians towards generic medicines.
Methods
This is a single-cohort pre-/post-intervention study. It was conducted with physicians from different private hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The intervention was in the form of an interactive lecture that addressed several topics related to generic medicines. A validated questionnaire was used to assess the impact of the intervention on the knowledge and perceptions of physicians.
Results
A total of 28 out of 30 invited physicians agreed to attend and participate in the program (response rate 93.3%). The intervention improved the knowledge of physicians regarding the bioequivalence regulatory requirements (3.6% vs. 32.1% for pre- and post-intervention respectively, p = 0.008). Moreover, it improved their knowledge about several aspects of generic medicines including their bioequivalence, efficacy and safety (p = 0.004, p = < 0.001, p = 0.034, respectively). The intervention had also a positive impact on the physicians’ perceptions.
Conclusion
The study findings showed that a simple, educational intervention could improve the knowledge and perceptions of physicians towards generic medicines.
AlrasheedyAAHassaliMAAljadheyH. Is there a need for a formulary of clinically interchangeable medicines to guide generic substitution in Saudi Arabia?J Young Pharm2013; 5: 73–75.
3.
ChongCPHassaliMABahariMB. Generic medicine substitution practices among community pharmacists: a nationwide study from Malaysia. J Public Health2011; 19: 81–90.
4.
Generic Pharmaceutical Association. GPhA report: savings: $1 trillion over 10 years – generic drug savings in the U.S. J Pharm Health Serv Res2012; 3: 229–236.
5.
GodmanBShrankWWettermarkB. Use of generics – a critical cost containment measure for all healthcare professionals in Europe?Pharmaceuticals2010; 3: 2470–2494.
6.
HassaliMAAlrasheedyAAMcLachlanA. The experiences of implementing generic medicines policy in eight countries: a review and recommendations for a successful promotion of generic medicines use. Saudi Pharm J2014; 22: 491–503.
7.
HassaliMAAlrasheedyAAChristopherCW. Knowledge and perceptions of physicians from private medical centers towards generic medicines in the State of Perak, Malaysia: findings and implications. J Med Market2014; 14: 212–219.
8.
HassaliMAWongZYAlrasheedyAA. Perspectives of physicians practicing in low and middle income countries towards generic medicines: a narrative review. Health Policy2014; 117: 297–310.
9.
HassaliMAShafieAAAwaisuA. Physicians' views on generic medicines: a narrative review. J Generic Med: Busi J Gen Med Sect2010; 7: 30–39.
10.
ChuaGNHassaliMAShafieAA. A survey exploring knowledge and perceptions of general practitioners towards the use of generic medicines in the northern state of Malaysia. Health Policy2010; 95: 229–235.
11.
HassaliMASaleemFHanifAA. A survey assessing knowledge and perception of prescribers towards generic medicines in Hospital Seberang Jaya. J Generic Med: Busi J Gen Med Sect2014; 11: 4–10.
12.
HassaliMAWongZYAlrasheedyAA. Does educational intervention improve doctors’ knowledge and perceptions of generic medicines and their generic prescribing rate? A study from Malaysia. SAGE Open Med2014; 2: DOI: 2050312114555722–DOI: 2050312114555722.
13.
KumarRHassaliMKaurN. Perceptions of physicians from private medical centres in Malaysia about generic medicine usage: a qualitative study. Generics Biosimil Initiat J2014; 3: 63–68.
14.
KumarRHassaliMASaleemF. Knowledge and perceptions of physicians from private medical centres towards generic medicines: a nationwide survey from Malaysia. J Pharm Pol Pract2015; 8: 11–11.
15.
WongZYHassaliMAAlrasheedyAA. Malaysian generic pharmaceutical industries: perspective from healthcare stakeholders. J Pharm Health Serv Res2014; 5: 193–203.
16.
HassaliMAKamilTKTMd YusofFA. General practitioners' knowledge, attitude and prescribing of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections in Selangor, Malaysia: findings and implications. Expert Rev Anti-infect Ther2015; 13: 511–520.
17.
Md RezalRSHassaliMAAlrasheedyAA. Physicians' knowledge, perceptions and behaviour towards antibiotic prescribing: a systematic review of the literature. Expert Rev Anti-infect Ther2015; 13: 665–680.
18.
GrimshawJMEcclesMPWalkerAE. Changing physicians' behavior: what works and thoughts on getting more things to work. J Cont Educ Health Prof2002; 22: 237–243.
19.
SoumeraiSBAvornJ. Principles of educational outreach (‘academic detailing’) to improve clinical decision making. JAMA1990; 263: 549–556.
FreemantleNHarveyEWolfF. Printed educational materials: effects on professional practice and health care outcomes. Cochr Datab Syst Rev2000; 2: CD000172–CD000172.
22.
PearsonS-ARoss-DegnanDPaysonA. Changing medication use in managed care: a critical review of the available evidence. Am J Managed Care2003; 9: 715–731.
23.
Thomson O'BrienMAOxmanADDavisDA. Educational outreach visits: effects on professional practice and health care outcomes. Cochr Datab Syst Rev2000. CD000409.
24.
SimonSRMajumdarSRProsserLA. Group versus individual academic detailing to improve the use of antihypertensive medications in primary care: a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Am J Med2005; 118: 521–528.
25.
SoumeraiSBMcLaughlinTJAvornJ. Improving drug prescribing in primary care: a critical analysis of the experimental literature. Milbank Quart1989, pp. 268–317.
26.
MajumdarSRoss-DegnanDFarrayeF. Controlled trial of interventions to increase testing and treatment for Helicobacter pylori and reduce medication use in patients with chronic acid‐related symptoms. Aliment Pharmacol Therap2005; 21: 1029–1039.
27.
PerzJFCraigASCoffeyCS. Changes in antibiotic prescribing for children after a community-wide campaign. JAMA2002; 287: 3103–3109.
28.
BabarZKanSScahillS. Interventions promoting the acceptance and uptake of generic medicines: a narrative review of the literature. Health Policy2014; 117: 285–296.
29.
AlghashamAA. Generic drug prescribing in central Saudi Arabia: perceptions and attitudes of physicians. Ann Saudi Med2009; 29: 24–24.
30.
HermesESernyakMRosenheckR. Impact of a program encouraging the use of generic antipsychotics. Am J Managed Care2012; 18: e307–314.
31.
DavisDAThomsonMAOxmanAD. Changing physician performance: a systematic review of the effect of continuing medical education strategies. JAMA1995; 274: 700–705.
32.
FigueirasASastreIGestal-OteroJJ. Effectiveness of educational interventions on the improvement of drug prescription in primary care: a critical literature review. J Eval Clin Pract2001; 7: 223–241.
33.
MasturaITengC. The effect of “group detailing” on drug prescribing in primary care. Med J Malays2008; 63: 315–318.
34.
O’brienMRogersSJamtvedtG. Educational outreach visits: effects on professional practice and health care outcomes (Review). Cochr Libr2008; 3: 1–64.
35.
Robson LS, Shannon HS, Goldenhar LM, et al. Guide to evaluating the effectiveness of strategies for preventing work injuries: how to show whether a safety intervention really works. Cincinnati, OH: NIOSH, 2001.
