Intern Physicians’ views of Generic Medicines in a Teaching Hospital in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The use of generic medicines in practice is an effective pharmaceutical cost containment strategy. However, prescribing of generic medicines has remained relatively moderate compared to that of innovator brands in many developing countries. To improve generic medicine utilization, there is a need to understand prescribers’ views of generic medicines and related practices.
Objectives: To explore the views of intern physicians on generic medicines, generic prescription and substitution practices.
Methods: This study employed qualitative methods. The study participants were intern physicians in a tertiary hospital. The participants were recruited using snowballing technique and interviews were continued until an adequate sample size was attained. The method for data collection was face-to-face individual in-depth semi-structured interviews. A total of 12 interviews were conducted. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed using a denaturalized approach. Data analysis was by thematic analysis based on the framework approach.
Results: Three major themes were identified on their views on generic medicines; 1) insufficient knowledge about generic medicines, 2) ambivalent dispositions to generic medicines, 3) trust of innovator brands. Their views appear not very supportive of generic substitution practice. Possibly, due to a gulf in communication between dispensing pharmacists and prescribing physicians, as well as past experiences with inappropriate substitutions.
Conclusion: Trust in the innovator product appears an important factor in the prescribing of medications. The participants seem to have less trust in generic medicines, hence they prescribe innovator brands more.