Generic drugs in Brazil: known by many, used by few

Cadernos de Saúde Pública

Andréa D. Bertoldi¹  Aluísio J. D. Barros¹  Pedro C. Hallal¹ 

[1] ,Universidade Federal de Pelotas Programa de Pós-graduação em Epidemiologia Pelotas,Brasil

关键词: Pharmacoepidemiology;    Drug Costs;    Drug Utilization;    Generic Drugs;    Health Policy;    Farmacoepidemiologia;    Custos de Medicamentos;    Uso de Medicamentos;    Medicamentos Genéricos;    Políticas de Saúde;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0102-311X2005000600029

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

This study evaluated knowledge and use of generic drugs in a population-based sample of adults from a southern Brazilian city. The outcomes were: the proportion of generics in total medicines used; theoretical and practical knowledge about generics; and strategies used to buy medicines on medical prescriptions. The recall period for drug utilization was 15 days. The proportion of generics in total medicines was 3.9%. While 86.0% knew that generics cost less and 70.0% that the quality is similar to brand name medicines, only 57.0% knew any packaging characteristics that distinguish generics from other medicines. The highest proportion of generic drug utilization was in the antimicrobial pharmacological group. A brand name medicine (with a brand similar to the generic name) was mistakenly classified as a generic through photos by 48.0% of the interviewees. Among subjects who bought medicines in the 15-day period, 18.9% reported buying a generic, but this result should be interpreted with caution, because the population frequently fails to differentiate between generics and other medicines.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
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