Athanasakis, Kostas, Kyriopoulos, Ilias 
ORCID: 0000-0002-3932-8228 and Kyriopoulos, John
(2018)
To switch or not to switch? Patient attitudes towards generic substitution in Greece.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, 9 (3).
pp. 271-273.
ISSN 1759-8885
Abstract
Objectives: Generic substitution is a popular cost containment measure and was among the core priorities of the pharmaceutical policy agenda in Greece during the last years. This study aims to examine the determinants of patients’ attitudes towards generic substitution in Greece. Methods: Using primary data from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey, our empirical analysis relies on a logistic regression model. The dependent variable is a binary variable regarding whether respondents could accept generic substitution. The independent variables are as follows: urbanity, social status, gender, age, marital status, education, source of information about pharmaceutical care, chronic conditions and knowledge about generics. Key findings: Our findings suggest that 39.2% of the respondents were willing to accept generic substitution in the pharmacy, as they considered generic medication as an equal therapeutic alternative to branded pharmaceuticals. Male, high educated and those living in urban areas are more likely to have a positive attitude towards generic substitution. Moreover, respondents who received information from their pharmacists are more likely to accept generic substitution, relative to those being informed by doctors. Chronic patients appear as less likely to accept generic substitution (odds ratios of 0.79 and 0.70 for those having one and two or more conditions respectively) although this relationship is accompanied by a higher level of uncertainty (P < 0.1). Age and marital status were not statistically significant determinants of the attitudes towards generic substitution. Conclusions: A significant share of the respondents is reluctant to accept the generic substitution. In this context, some specific population groups may need further information about generic drugs and substitution, and the therapeutic equivalence between generics and branded drugs. The findings of this study are useful towards designing targeted interventions for specific population groups in Greece.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | © 2018 Royal Pharmaceutical Society |
| Divisions: | Middle East Centre |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RS Pharmacy and materia medica |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Apr 2019 10:36 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Nov 2024 05:31 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/100494 |
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