Scale development on consumer behavior toward counterfeit drugs in a developing country: a quantitative study exploiting the tools of an evolving paradigm

BMC Public Health

Mohamed Azmi Ahmad Hassali³  Mohamed Izham bMohamed Ibrahim²  Abubakr A Alfadl¹ 

[1] National Drug Quality Control Laboratory, National Medicines and Poisons Board, Federal Ministry of Health, Qasr Street, Khartoum, Sudan;College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar;Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia

关键词: Arabic-speaking Sudanese population;    Developing country;    Scale;    Behavior;    Counterfeit drugs;   

Others  :  1161804
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-13-829

 received in 2013-01-23, accepted in 2013-09-05,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Although desperate need and drug counterfeiting are linked in developing countries, little research has been carried out to address this link, and there is a lack of proper tools and methodology. This study addresses the need for a new methodological approach by developing a scale to aid in understanding the demand side of drug counterfeiting in a developing country.

Methods

The study presents a quantitative, non-representative survey conducted in Sudan. A face-to-face structured interview survey methodology was employed to collect the data from the general population (people in the street) in two phases: pilot (n = 100) and final survey (n = 1003). Data were analyzed by examining means, variances, squared multiple correlations, item-to-total correlations, and the results of an exploratory factor analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis.

Results

As an approach to scale purification, internal consistency was examined and improved. The scale was reduced from 44 to 41 items and Cronbach’s alpha improved from 0.818 to 0.862. Finally, scale items were assessed. The result was an eleven-factor solution. Convergent and discriminant validity were demonstrated.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that the “Consumer Behavior Toward Counterfeit Drugs Scale” is a valid, reliable measure with a solid theoretical base. Ultimately, the study offers public health policymakers a valid measurement tool and, consequently, a new methodological approach with which to build a better understanding of the demand side of counterfeit drugs and to develop more effective strategies to combat the problem.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Alfadl et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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