BACKGROUND: Because generic medications are less expensive than brand-name medications, government and private insurers have encouraged and/or mandated the use of generics. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at evaluating perceptions about generic medications among English-speaking women of childbearing age currently enrolled in U.S. TennCare (Medicaid). METHODS: We recruited a convenience sample of patients from the waiting room of a primary care/gynecology health clinic, with 80% recruitment rate among those approached. We orally administered a 25-item questionnaire to gather sociodemographic information and to assess beliefs regarding the efficacy, safety, cost, and preferences for personal use of generic medications. RESULTS: The average age of the women (n=172) was 28.8 ± 6.4 years, and most were white (82.0%) and currently married (58.1%). Nearly one-fifth (19.2%) had not completed high school. Most women believed that generic medications were less expensive (97.6%) and better value (60.5%) than brand-name medications, but only 45.3% preferred to take generics themselves. About a quarter (23.3%) believed that brand-name medications were more effective than generics, whereas 13.4% believed that generics caused more side effects. Few women reported that their doctor (29.7%) and/or pharmacist (35.5%) had ever talked to them about taking generics. CONCLUSION: Awareness of the benefits of generics did not equal preferences for personal use of generics among this sample of women enrolled in U.S. TennCare. Furthermore, women reported that providers-both physicians and pharmacists-infrequently discussed generic substitution with them.
BACKGROUND: Because generic medications are less expensive than brand-name medications, government and private insurers have encouraged and/or mandated the use of generics. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at evaluating perceptions about generic medications among English-speaking women of childbearing age currently enrolled in U.S. TennCare (Medicaid). METHODS: We recruited a convenience sample of patients from the waiting room of a primary care/gynecology health clinic, with 80% recruitment rate among those approached. We orally administered a 25-item questionnaire to gather sociodemographic information and to assess beliefs regarding the efficacy, safety, cost, and preferences for personal use of generic medications. RESULTS: The average age of the women (n=172) was 28.8 ± 6.4 years, and most were white (82.0%) and currently married (58.1%). Nearly one-fifth (19.2%) had not completed high school. Most women believed that generic medications were less expensive (97.6%) and better value (60.5%) than brand-name medications, but only 45.3% preferred to take generics themselves. About a quarter (23.3%) believed that brand-name medications were more effective than generics, whereas 13.4% believed that generics caused more side effects. Few women reported that their doctor (29.7%) and/or pharmacist (35.5%) had ever talked to them about taking generics. CONCLUSION: Awareness of the benefits of generics did not equal preferences for personal use of generics among this sample of women enrolled in U.S. TennCare. Furthermore, women reported that providers-both physicians and pharmacists-infrequently discussed generic substitution with them.
Authors: Richard A Hansen; Jingjing Qian; Richard Berg; James Linneman; Enrique Seoane-Vazquez; Sarah K Dutcher; Saeid Raofi; C David Page; Peggy Peissig Journal: Pharmacotherapy Date: 2017-03-20 Impact factor: 4.705
Authors: R A Hansen; J Qian; R L Berg; J G Linneman; E Seoane-Vazquez; S Dutcher; S Raofi; C D Page; P L Peissig Journal: Clin Pharmacol Ther Date: 2017-10-10 Impact factor: 6.875
Authors: Jennifer N Howard; Ilene Harris; Gavriella Frank; Zippora Kiptanui; Jingjing Qian; Richard Hansen Journal: Res Social Adm Pharm Date: 2017-08-04
Authors: Sotiris Rompas; Thomas Goss; Sally Amanuel; Victoria Coutinho; Zhihong Lai; Paola Antonini; Michael F Murphy Journal: Am Health Drug Benefits Date: 2015-05