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Perceptions and patterns of use of generic drugs among Italian Family Pediatricians: First round results of a web survey

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  • Fabiano, Valentina
  • Mameli, Chiara
  • Cattaneo, Dario
  • Delle Fave, Antonella
  • Preziosa, Alessandra
  • Mele, Giuseppe
  • Clementi, Emilio
  • Zuccotti, Gian Vincenzo

Abstract

Prescription of generic medicines represents an efficacious healthcare cost containment strategy. In some European countries and in the US, generic medicines are largely prescribed. In Italy, generic drugs prescription rate is lower. General Practitioners and Family Pediatricians may be less confident in prescribing generic equivalents instead of “branded” medicines. There are currently no data about Italian Family Pediatricians’ perceptions and patterns of use of generic drugs. This is a first nationwide web survey conducted with the aim to evaluate generic medicines knowledge and prescribing habits of Italian Family Pediatricians. 303 Family Pediatricians completed the online questionnaire. 37.2% and 32.6% of them declared to have a sufficient or fairly good knowledge of generic medicines, respectively, and the majority of them believed that efficacy of generic medicines was sufficient (33.6%) or good (45.2%). Nevertheless, Italian Family Pediatricians are still prone to prescribe trade medicines more frequently, since only 13.5% of them declared that more than a half of their patients were treated with generic medicines. Major issues related with generic medicines prescriptions by Italian Family Pediatricians seem to be represented by diffuse scepticism about reliability of bioequivalence tests and safety of switchability from branded to generic equivalents. More information about generic drugs and more research in the field of pediatric pharmacology are needed for increasing generic medicines prescription rate among Italian Family Pediatricians.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabiano, Valentina & Mameli, Chiara & Cattaneo, Dario & Delle Fave, Antonella & Preziosa, Alessandra & Mele, Giuseppe & Clementi, Emilio & Zuccotti, Gian Vincenzo, 2012. "Perceptions and patterns of use of generic drugs among Italian Family Pediatricians: First round results of a web survey," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(3), pages 247-252.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:104:y:2012:i:3:p:247-252
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2011.12.005
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    1. Chua, Gin Nie & Hassali, Mohamed Azmi & Shafie, Asrul Akmal & Awaisu, Ahmed, 2010. "A survey exploring knowledge and perceptions of general practitioners towards the use of generic medicines in the northern state of Malaysia," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(2-3), pages 229-235, May.
    2. Schneeweiss, Sebastian & Schoffski, Oliver & Selke, Gisbert W, 1998. "What is Germany's experience on reference based drug pricing and the etiology of adverse health outcomes or substitution?," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 253-260, June.
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    1. Pellegrino, Paolo & Carnovale, Carla & Cattaneo, Dario & Perrone, Valentina & Antoniazzi, Stefania & Pozzi, Marco & Napoleone, Ettore & Filograna, Maria Rosaria & Clementi, Emilio & Radice, Sonia, 2013. "Pharmacovigilance knowledge in family paediatricians. A survey study in Italy," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(1), pages 216-220.
    2. Mingyue Zhao & Lingyi Zhang & Zhitong Feng & Yu Fang, 2021. "Physicians’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Generic Substitution in China: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Mascia, Daniele & Dandi, Roberto & Di Vincenzo, Fausto, 2014. "Professional networks and EBM use: A study of inter-physician interaction across levels of care," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 118(1), pages 24-36.
    4. Dunne, Suzanne & Shannon, Bill & Hannigan, Ailish & Dunne, Colum & Cullen, Walter, 2014. "Physician and pharmacist perceptions of generic medicines: What they think and how they differ," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(2), pages 214-223.
    5. Berna Tuncay & Sergio Pagano & Mario De Santis & Pierpaolo Cavallo, 2020. "Prescribing Behavior of General Practitioners for Generic Drugs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-13, August.
    6. Hassali, Mohamed Azmi & Wong, Zhi Yen & Alrasheedy, Alian A. & Saleem, Fahad & Mohamad Yahaya, Abdul Haniff & Aljadhey, Hisham, 2014. "Perspectives of physicians practicing in low and middle income countries towards generic medicines: A narrative review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(3), pages 297-310.
    7. Else-Lydia Toverud & Katrin Hartmann & Helle Håkonsen, 2015. "A Systematic Review of Physicians’ and Pharmacists’ Perspectives on Generic Drug Use: What are the Global Challenges?," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 35-45, August.

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