(94) Estimating Patients' Knowledge and Behavioral Traits Towards Generic Drugs in Greece

Publication Number: 768

Background: The existence of generic drugs lowers medication prices and incentives market growth and research and development. According to the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (SFEE), the generic market penetration in Greece in the final quarter of 2020 was 35%, which is lower than the average penetration rate of generics of EU18 (62.4%).

Objectives: This study investigates knowledge and behavioral traits of citizens in Greece about generic drugs.

Methods: A total of 2617 adult patients all around Greece voluntarily participated in the survey conducted in person between February 2017 and January 2020 with a structured anonymous questionnaire regardings generic drugs. The survey group consisted of adults of both genders where their profession and education level were also examined. . Their answers were then analyzed using SPSS (15.0).

Results: The participants of the study presented no gender differences (51.7% female and 48.3% male) and 64.7% of the participants were under 60 years. Participants over 60 years answered correctly by 35.2% compared with younger participants answered correctly by 51.4 % (OR 1.949, 95% CI (1.645- 2.311), p< 0.0005). Participants with higher education level answered correctly by 55.0% instead of participants with lower education who answered correctly by 36.5 % (OR 0.470, 95% CI (0.400- 0.553), p< 0.0005). Participants currently employed answered correctly by 55.4 %, while unemployed/retired participants answered correctly only by 34.6 % (OR 2.342, 95% CI (1.988- 2.759), p< 0.0005). Patients were mostly informed by healthcare professionals (physicians/pharmacists at 32,6 %), while the family/friends and media were found to be the most severe source of misinformation. Participants with a lower level of education are considering generic drugs different from branded and are less willing to change their medication (OR 1,730 CI (1,474-2,031), p < 0.0005). Most of the patients were willing to change to a generic drug (56%) in case this was instructed by their doctor. On the other hand, the majority of participants, who would not change their treatment, were either afraid of side effects (29,3%) or because of their belief in branded and generic drugs difference (25,9%). Participants with lower education level consider that generic drugs’ use could be dangerous (OR 1.,948, 95% CI (1.662- 2.283), p< 0.0005) as well as older participants (OR 0.420, 95% CI (0.355- 0.498), p < 0.0005).

Conclusions: Age and education are key factors regarding generic use. Less educated and older participants seem to know less about generic drugs
The role of the physician/pharmacist is also highlighted, while misinformation about generic medicines seems to be the key point.