Intention of Purchasing Generic Prescription Drugs on the Part of Consumers in Asturias, Spain

Abstract

Background: Ascertaining how consumers perceive the risk related to the use of generic prescription drugs and those factors which have the greatest impact on the intention to request a generic drug from the prescribing physician and/or the pharmacist for the purpose of determining any possible barriers or hindrances to the acceptance of generics and to gather information to aid healthcare managers in their decision-making processes. Methods: Study on prescription drug use revolving around the degree to which patients are willing to request an EFG. In this quantitative transversal study, a total of 542 individuals were individually surveyed upon exiting a healthcare center or pharmacy in Asturias. A scale for measuring the perceived risk involved in the purchase of a prescription drug including 15 attributes grouped into five aspects was included in the questionnaire. Information was also gathered regarding the intention of using generic prescription drugs and on the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of those surveyed. For the analysis of the results, a factorial confirmational analysis, multiple regression and univariate analysis were used. The data was processed using the EQS and SPSS statistics programs. Results: Mean perception of the risk (scales 1-7): functional: 2.75; physical: 2.68; financial: 2.19; psychological: 1.99; social: 1.42. Factors having a bearing on the intention of requesting generic prescription drugs from their physician: psychological risk (p=0.000). On requesting the same from their pharmacist: psychological risk (p=0.000) and social risk (p=0.020). Conclusions: The agents interested in the development on the EFG market should target their communication efforts on putting the functional and financial aspects of the manufacturer s specialties and generic specialties on the same level, but should not leave out psychological and social aspects of the consumers purchasing behavior.