Do physicians agree with generic substitution?

• Background: Physicians often have a key role when implementing pharmaceutical benefits reforms as their opinions may influence their prescribing and thus affect the outcome of the reform. The knowledge about physicians’ attitudes to pharmaceutical benefits reforms is limited. Objective: To investigate opinions about the new Pharmaceutical Benefits Reform, introduced in October 2002, among doctors in the Region Västra Götaland, Sweden. Methods: A questionnaire survey was performed in April 2003. All private practitioners that had contracts with Region Västra Götaland (n=320) and a random sample consisting of 25% of the doctors employed by the region (n=1,068) were included. The questionnaire aimed to answer if the doctors had received enough information about the Pharmaceutical Benefits Reform and their sources of information. Furthermore, doctors' opinions on the introduction of generic substitution at the pharmacy, work place codes, individual prescriber codes and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Board were explored. Results: The response rate was 66%. A majority (76%) of the doctors reported that they had received enough information about the reform; most often from the employer, followed by the Drug and Therapeutics Committees and authorities. Half of the respondents, 56%, were mainly positive to the introduction of generic substitution, this varied between different age groups and types of employer. Most of the doctors (70%) thought that generic substitution would lower society’s costs for medicines; doctors in public employment were most optimistic. One third reported that generic substitution had caused problems for their patients during the month before the study, with a higher proportion among private practitioners compared to others. A higher proportion of the older doctors (35%) compared to the younger doctors (9%) were mainly positive to the newly introduced Pharmaceutical Benefits Board. Conclusions: The participating doctors were in general positive to the recently introduced Pharmaceutical Benefits Reform. Age and type of employer seemed to influence the opinions on certain issues.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Samhällsfarmaci och klinisk farmaci (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Social and Clinical Pharmacy (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)