Patients’ beliefs about generic medicines in Malaysia

Abstract

Background:

Acceptance of generic medicines by patients is an essential factor given that they are the end users of these medicines. In fact, adequate knowledge and positive perceptions are prerequisite to patients’ acceptance and use of generic medicines.

Objective:

To assess the current belief and views of patients about generic medicines in Malaysia.

Method:

This was a self-administered questionnaire-based study. The study was conducted with patients visiting outpatient pharmacy department at a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia. The Malaysian version of Generic Medicines Scale (GMS) was used. The GMS consists of two subscales: efficacy and similarity of generic medicines to original brand medicines. The efficacy subscale consists of 10 items while the similarity subscale consists of 6 items. The responses to the items were framed as a five-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree).

Results:

A total of 202 out of 300 patients participated in the study, giving a response rate of 67.3%. In this study, only 49% of them (n=99) knew the term ‘generic medicine’. Moreover, only 53.5% of the respondents (n=108) believed that the efficacy of generic medicines was the same as original brand medicines. In terms of quality, only 44% of the respondents (n=89) disagreed that generic medicines were of a lower quality. About one third (n=65, 32.2%) believed that generic medicines were cheaper because they were less efficacious. In terms of side effects, 44.5% of the respondents (n=90) believed that generic medicines had the same side effect profile as original brand medicines.

Conclusions:

The study finding showed that almost half of the respondents had negative belief in generic medicines. Similarly, many patients were not aware of the similarities and differences between generic and original brand medicines. Therefore, there is a need to provide patients with adequate information about generic medicines.

INTRODUCTION

Healthcare expenditure was escalating throughout the years.1,2 An increase in the elderly population, high prevalence of chronic diseases, high utilization of healthcare service were the main factors contributing for escalating healthcare cost.3 Similarly, pharmaceutical expenditure - one of the fast growing component of healthcare expenditure - is steadily increasing.4 Meanwhile, utilization of generic medicines is identified as one of the effective mechanisms to curb the escalating pharmaceutical cost.5,6,7,8 In fact, in many countries including Malaysia, generic medicines are approximately 20-90% cheaper than brand innovator products.9,10,11,12 Therefore, in recent years, various policies, initiatives, and strategies were formulated by governments and policy makers to encourage the use of generic medicines as an integral part of the health care system.4,13,14,15 In Malaysia, generic medicines policy (GMP), which is part of the National Medicines Policy, was formulated in year 2006 to encourage the utilization of generic medicines among different healthcare stakeholders.16,17 Various strategies were formulated in GMP to encourage the utilization of generic medicines: (1) Prescribing by using generic name or International Non-proprieatary Name (INN) shall be practiced at all levels, (2) promoting the use of generic names or INN in procurement of medicines, (3) priority shall be given to locally manufactured medicines in terms of pharmaceutical procurement, (4) using the generic names or INN with or without the trade names in labelling for dispensed medicines should be encouraged, (5) establishment or formation of formulary of interchangeable medicines, (6) for all interchangeable medicines, generic substitution shall be allowed and encouraged. Amidst them all, the acceptance of generic medicines by patients is an essential factor given that patients are the end users of these medicines.18,19 In fact, adequate knowledge, and positive perceptions are prerequisite to acceptance and use of generic medicines by patients18,19 because insufficient information and lack of understanding of generic medicines is one of the main barriers to the wider use of these medicines.19,20,21,22

In literature, there are two studies conducted in Malaysia regarding] consumers’ perceptions of generic medicines.23,24 However, these studies were conducted before the implementation of generic medicine policy.25 Moreover, people’s views and knowledge might have changed especially in the recent years because several educational activities and nationwide awareness programs have been conducted to educate patients about generic medicines.25,26 Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the current belief and views of patients about generic medicines in Malaysia.

METHODS

Design and Setting

A cross sectional study design was adopted to conduct this study. The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Perak, Malaysia. The hospital has 24 wards and 548 beds.27

Sampling and Sample Size

Patients with age older than 18 years old and literate (i.e. able to speak, read and write) with Bahasa Malaysia (National Language of Malaysia), were enrolled in the study. Patient with severe health problems of cognitive impairment and caregivers are excluded from the study. Using Cochran equation with 80% confidence level and 5% precision and degree of variability of 0.3, the minimum required sample size is 138 patients.28 Then, to take into account non-response rate, the sample size was increased to 300. The convenience sampling was the sampling strategy used in this study.

Instrument

Generic Medicines Scale (GMS) was developed by Figueiras et al. (2009) to assess medicine consumers/patients beliefs about generic medicines.29 The GMS consists of two subscales: efficacy and similarity of generic medicines to original brand medicines. The efficacy subscale consists of 10 items while the similarity subscale consists of 6 items. The responses to the items were framed as a five-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree, 2=disagree, 3=neutral, 4=agree and 5=strongly agree). The GMS was translated to Bahasa Malaysia. The Malaysian version of the GMS was valid and reliable to be used in Malaysian setting. The process of translation and validation was published by our research group elsewhere.30

Data collection

The questionnaire was self-administered in nature. The questionnaires were distributed to patients during their waiting time to get the medications in outpatient pharmacy department. Along with the questionnaire, a cover letter explaining study background, purpose, procedure of the study and a brief explanatory statement on the definition of generic and original brand medicine was given to the participants. The data collection period was between 1^st October 2013 and 31^st October 2013.

Data analysis

Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographic characteristics. Normality of data was tested using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to detect whether there are differences in participants’ responses in terms of their demographic characteristics. All statistical tests were conducted at a priori significance level of p<0.05. However, when using Mann–Whitney for post hoc follow-up tests for the Kruskal–Wallis, to control and prevent inflation of type I errors, a Bonferroni correction to the alpha values was done.31,32 Thus, depending on the number of comparison groups, the significance level was adjusted when running the post hoc analysis (e.g. for three comparisons, the P value was divided by three (0.05/3) and corrected to be 0.0167). The data analysis was performed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16 for Windows.

RESULTS

Demographic characteristics

A total of 202 out of 300 patients participated in the study, giving a response rate of 67.3%. Table 1 shows that majority of the respondents were female (55.4%) and Malay (64.0%). About fifty-three percent of the respondents were above 40 years old. Only 16% of the respondents had a university level of education or higher. About 20% of the respondents had monthly income above MYR3000 (1USD = MYR3.33).

Table 1.

Patients’ demographic characteristics

Demographic Characteristics	Total sample N=202
Gender
Male	86 (42.6)
Female	112 (55.4)
Missing data	4 (2.0)
Races
Malay	130(64.0)
Chinese	30 (14.9)
Indian	37 (18.3)
Others	2 (1.0)
Missing data	3 (1.5)
Age
Below 30	53 (26.2)
30-40	36 (17.8)
41-50	47 (23.3)
51-60	33(16.3)
61 and above	28 (13.9)
Missing data	5 (2.5)
Education level
Primary education	10 (5.0)
Intermediate education	23 (11.4)
Secondary education	78 (38.6)
A-level/Matriculation/pre-university	11(5.4)
Diploma	36 (17.8)
Undergraduate degree	29 (14.4)
Postgraduate degree	4 (2.0)
Missing data	11 (5.4%)
Monthly income (RM*)
< RM1000	43 (21.3)
RM1000-RM2000	48 (23.8)
RM2001-RM3000	24 (11.9)
RM3001-RM4000	19 (9.4)
>RM4000	20 (9.9)
Missing data	48 (23.8)
Ask doctor about medications
Yes	143 (70.8)
No	55 (27.2)
Missing Data	4 (2.0)
Know about generic medicine
Yes	99 (49.0)
No	97 (48.0)
Missing Data	6 (3.0)

^*1 USD = 3.33 Malaysian Ringgit (RM)

Source of drug information and knowledge about the term generic medicine

Most of the respondents surveyed (n=143, 70.8%) asked doctors about their medicines. However, only 49% of them (n=99) knew the term ‘generic medicine’.

Beliefs about the efficacy of generic medicines

In this study, only 53.5% of the respondents (n=108) believed that the efficacy of generic medicines was the same as original brand medicines. Moreover, 41.5% (n=84) of the respondents believed that generic medicines took longer to be effective. Therefore, most of the respondents (n=133, 65.8%) believed that generic medicines were good for less serious diseases. In terms of quality, only 44% of the respondents (n=89) disagreed that generic medicines were of lower quality. About one third (n=65, 32.2%) believed that generic medicines were cheaper because they were less efficacious. Table 2 shows the responses of the patients on the statements regarding their beliefs about the efficacy of generic medicines.

Table 2.

Patients’ beliefs about the efficacy of generic medicines

Items in questionnaire	n (%)
	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly agree	Missing
1. The efficacy of generic medicines is the same as brand medicines.	6 (3.0)	40 (19.8)	48 (23.8)	87 (43.1)	21 (10.4)	0 (0.0)
2. Generic medicines take longer time to be efficacious.	4 (2.0)	47 (23.3)	65 (32.2)	73 (36.1)	11 (5.4)	2 (1.0)
3. Generic medicines are good for less serious diseases.	3 (1.5)	20 (9.9)	44 (21.8)	116 (57.4)	17 (8.4)	2 (1.0)
4. Treatments with generic medicines take longer.	8 (4.0)	54 (26.7)	63 (31.2)	61 (30.2)	12 (5.9)	4 (2.0)
5. Generic medicines are made with lower quality substances.	15 (7.4)	74 (36.6)	61 (30.2)	37 (18.3)	10 (5.0)	5 (2.5)
6. Generic antibiotics are less efficacious than brand antibiotics.	8 (4.0)	50 (24.8)	57 (28.2)	64 (31.7)	20 (9.9)	3 (1.5)
7. Generic medicines have a better quality control than brand medicines.	7 (3.5)	43 (21.3)	71 (35.1)	63 (31.2)	17 (8.4)	1 (0.5)
8. Generic medicines are cheaper because they are less efficacious.	10 (5.0)	74 (36.6)	49 (24.3)	49 (24.3)	16 (7.9)	4 (2.0)
9. Generic medicines have the same effect than brand ones.	3 (1.5)	45 (22.3)	55 (27.2)	88 (43.6)	10 (5.0)	1 (0.5)
10. Generic medicines are used for the same illnesses.	2 (1.0)	25 (12.4)	55 (27.2)	101 (50.0)	18 (8.9)	1 (0.5)

Beliefs about the similarity of generic medicines

In this study, 50% (n=101) of the respondents believed that generic medicines have a similar taste as original brand medicines. Similarly, most of respondents (n=139, 68.8%) knew that the packaging of generic medicines was different from original brand medicines. Most of them (n=133, 65.8%) also believed that the indication of generic medicines is the same as original brand counterparts. In terms of side effects, 44.5% of the respondents (n=90) believed that generic medicines have the same side effect profile as original brand medicines. Table 3 shows the responses of the patients on various statements regarding their beliefs about the similarity of generic medicines.

Table 3.

Patients’ beliefs about the similarity of generic medicines

Items in questionnaire	n (%)
	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly agree	Missing
11. Generic tablets are the same as brand ones.	5 (2.5)	64 (31.7)	51 (25.2)	65 (32.2)	14 (6.9)	3 (1.5)
12. Generic medicines have a similar taste as brand medicines.	7 (3.5)	32 (15.8)	59 (29.2)	88 (43.6)	13 (6.4)	3 (1.5)
13. Generic medicines have the same side effects as brand medicines.	5 (2.5)	43 (21.3)	60 (29.7)	75 (37.1)	15 (7.4)	4 (2.0)
14. Generic medicines have a different box from brand medicines.	3 (1.5)	23 (11.4)	37 (18.3)	116 (57.4)	23 (11.4)	0 (0.0)
15. The use of generic medicines is similar to brand ones.	2 (1.0)	20 (9.9)	46 (22.8)	113 (55.9)	20 (9.9)	1 (0.5)
16. Generic medicines are exactly the same as brand medicines.	6 (3.0)	38 (18.8)	57 (28.2)	80 (39.6)	20 (9.9)	1 (0.5)

Comparison between demographic characteristics

The participants’ responses to statements were assessed to determine whether there are significant differences in terms of their demographic data. The comparison analysis is presented in Table 4.

Table 4.

Factors affecting patients’ beliefs about generic medicines

Items in questionnaire	Gender*	Race**	Age**	Education level**	Monthly income**
1. The efficacy of generic medicines is the same as brand medicines.	0.425	0.001a	0.066	0.024	0.918
2. Generic medicines take longer time to be efficacious	0.171	0.195	0.629	0.506	0.762
3. Generic medicines are good for less serious diseases.	0.055	0.003a	0.850	0.216	0.069
4. Treatments with generic medicines take longer.	0.715	0.659	0.137	0.735	0.965
5. Generic medicines are made with lower quality substances.	0.052	0.385	0.729	0.085	0.947
6. Generic antibiotics are less efficacious than brand antibiotics.	0.593	0.717	0.997	0.284	0.709
7. Generic medicines have a better quality control than brand medicines.	0.002	0.111	0.674	0.011a	0.003a
8. Generic medicines are cheaper because they are less efficacious.	0.200	0.332	0.870	0.553	0.782
9. Generic medicines have the same effect than brand ones.	0.585	0.089	0.176	0.760	0.237
10. Generic medicines are used for the same illnesses.	0.010	0.854	0.091	0.038	0.592
11. Generic tablets are the same as brand ones.	0.896	0.099	0.019a	0.484	0.231
12. Generic medicines have a similar taste as brand medicines.	0.789	0.030	0.016a	0.097	0.968
13. Generic medicines have the same side effects as brand medicines.	0.652	0.851	0.326	0.327	0.833
14. Generic medicines have a different box from brand medicines.	0.780	0.816	0.128	0.918	0.104
15. The use of generic medicines is similar to brand ones.	0.955	0.617	0.152	0.092	0.217
16. Generic medicines are exactly the same as brand medicines.	0.361	0.006a	0.035	0.283	0.420

* Mann Whitney test ** Kruskal Wallis test was used. P < 0.05 is considered significant. ^a Significant after Bonferroni correction.

There were significant differences between the respondents in terms of their race and their responses to the statement about ‘the efficacy of generic medicines is the same as brand medicines (p=0.001). The follow-up analysis showed that Malay (Md=4 (IQR=3-4)) had a statistically significant higher level of agreement with the statement compared to the Chinese (Md=3 (IQR=2-4)) (p=0.001). However, no statistically significant differences were found among other ethnic groups.

There were significant differences between the respondents in terms of their race and their responses to the statement about ‘generic medicines are good for less serious diseases’ (p=0.003). The follow-up analysis showed that Malay (Md=4 (IQR=4-4)) had a statistically significant higher level of agreement with the statement compared to the Chinese (Md=3 (IQR=2-4)) (p=0.001). However, no statistically significant differences were found among other ethnic groups.

There were significant differences between the respondents in terms of gender and their responses to the statement about ‘Generic medicines have a better quality control than brand medicines’ with male participants (Md=3 (IQR=3-4)) recorded a statistically significant higher level of agreement than female participants (Md=3 (IQR=2-4)) (p=0.002). Moreover, there were significant differences between the respondents in terms of education level and their responses to this statement (p=0.011). The follow-up analysis showed that respondents with a degree (Md=3 (IQR=2-3)) recorded a statistically significant lower level of agreement than participants with primary education (Md=4 (IQR=3-4.25)) (p=0.001) and intermediate education ((Md=4 (IQR=3-4)) (p=0.002). However, no statistically significant differences were found among other education levels. Moreover, there were significant differences between the respondents in terms of income level and their responses to this statement (p=0.003). The follow-up analysis showed that respondents with monthly income MYR3000 to MYR4000 (Md=3 (IQR=2-3)) recorded a statistically significant lower level of agreement than participants with month income less than MYR1000 (Md=4 (IQR=3-4)) (p=0.001). However, no statistically significant differences were found among other income levels.

There were significant differences between the respondents in terms of gender and their responses to the statement about ‘Generic medicines are used for the same illnesses’ with male participants tend to record a higher level of agreement than female participants (Mean ranks are 109.93 and 90.53 for male and female respectively, p=0.010).

There were significant differences between the respondents in terms of their age and their responses to the statement about ‘Generic tablets are the same as brand ones’ (p=0.019). The follow-up analysis showed that respondents in the age group 41-50 years old (Md=4 (IQR=3-4)) recorded a statistically significant higher level of agreement than participants in the age group 51-60 years (Md=2 (IQR=2-3.75)) (p=0.004). However, no statistically significant differences were found among other age groups.

There were significant differences between the respondents in terms of their age and their responses to the statement about ‘Generic medicines have a similar taste as brand medicines’ (p=0.016). The follow-up analysis showed that respondents in the age group 61-70 years old (Md=4 (IQR=3-4)) recorded a statistically significant higher level of agreement than participants with age below 30 years (Md=3 (IQR=3-4)) (p=0.002). However, no statistically significant differences were found among other age groups.

There were significant differences between the respondents in terms of their race and their responses to the statement ‘Generic medicines are exactly the same as brand medicines’ (p=0.006). The follow-up analysis showed that Malay (Md=4 (IQR=3-4)) had a statistically significant higher level of agreement with the statement compared to the Chinese (Md=2 (IQR=2-4)) (p<0.001). However, no statistically significant differences were found among other ethnic groups.

DISCUSSION

Malaysia’s healthcare system consists of two sectors, namely public and private sector. In public sector, the healthcare services is heavily subsidized by the government and the patients only required to pay minimal co-payment (i.e citizens only have to pay MYR 1 for one visit to outpatient department and MYR 5 for visiting a specialists’ clinic) while private sectors are funded mainly by patients’ out-of pocket payment.33 Therefore, promotion of generic medicines can lead to substantial saving to the government and patients.34 Hence, patients’ knowledge and acceptance are prerequisite for wide use of generic medicines. In this regard, the present study reported that 49% of the respondents knew the term “generic medicine”. This is better than the findings of previous studies conducted in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Penang) and some countries such as Jamaica (32.5%, 28.3% and 36.4%, respectively).23,24,35 However, it is still lower compared to other countries such as Portugal, the UK, Japan and New Zealand (100%, 70%, 68.4% and 51.6% respectively).21,36,37 Therefore, communication between healthcare professionals and patients about generic medicines is one of the most important factors associated with use of generic medicines.38 In this study, most of the surveyed patients (70.8%) mentioned that they communicated with their doctors about their medicines. In Malaysia, there is currently no dispensing separation. Medical practitioners still follow a traditional ‘dispensing doctors’ system in which medical practitioners still dispenses medications as part of their professional practice.39 This is because the 1952 Poison Act in Malaysia granted the right for registered medical practitioners to prescribe and dispense medicines in their clinics.40 Hence, the influence of medical practitioners on patients’ selection of either generic or original brand medicines cannot be neglected.41,42,43,44 In fact, medical practitioners do not only persuade patients accept to generic medicines, but also to make them confident and feel more comfortable about using these medicines. Therefore, medical practitioners need to actively inform their patients about generic medicines.19

In this study, 53.5% believed that the efficacy of generic medicines is the same as brand original medicines. This might be due to patients’ experience with using generic medicines in public hospitals since most of the medicines dispensed in public hospitals and clinics are generic medicines. In fact, previous experience with generic medicines was significantly associated with the increased acceptance of generic medicines.21,37,41,45,46 However, a sizeable proportion of participants in this study still have misconception about the efficacy of generic medicines. In fact, in literature, misconceptions and negative perceptions is still widely reported among a sizeable proportion of patients and medicine consumers in many countries.20,21,24,47,48,49,50,51,52

Moreover, majority of the respondents (65.8%) believed that generic medicines were good for less serious diseases. This implies that patients still do not have full confidence to use generic medicines for serious or life threatening diseases. In fact, the seriousness of the medical case/disease is an important factor, and the more serious or risky the patient perceives the condition to be, the less likely they are to use a generic medicine.22,53,54 About one third of respondents (32.2%) were sceptical about the efficacy of generic medicines because they were cheaper. This finding was consistent with a study conducted in Germany.41 Therefore, this misconception or myth that lower price equates to lower quality, need to be addressed and corrected.19,55

In terms of quality, only 44% of the respondents (n=89) disagreed that generic medicines were of lower quality. Therefore, it is important to correct this misconception. In fact, in Malaysia, generic manufacturers have to follow Good Manufacturing Practice Requirement, guidelines for pharmaceutical development, product testing (i.e. both compendial and non compendial testing) and the content of Common Technical Document for regulatory submission which are adopted from competent regulatory agencies in the EU, the United States as well as the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH).56,57 Moreover, before registration, generic medicines must undergo a rigorous registration process to ensure the quality, safety, efficacy and bioequivalence. Therefore, it is important to empower patients with information about regulatory approval and registration system for medicines in their country.25

Regarding the similarity of generic medicines, most of respondents knew that the similarity between generic and original brand medicines. Similar to our findings, majority of the participants from the UK and Portugal reported that they are aware of the availability of different brands (ie, versions) of the “same medicine”.36,46 However, in some other countries such as Bulgaria, Iraq, Norway and Japan, patients lack of knowledge about the similarity and difference between generic and original brand medicines.37,52,58,59

Few demographic characteristics were found to have significant effects on patients’ beliefs about generic medicines. Respondents with higher levels of education and higher income levels expressed better understanding of quality control of generic medicines. Previous studies have confirmed that patients with higher income levels42 and higher levels of education21,36,41,42,46 tended to have positive views about generic medicines. The respondents aged between 61-70 years expressed stronger belief that generic medicines have a similar taste as original brand medicines than those aged less than 30 years. A possible reason is that most medicines consumed by the elderly are in solid dosage forms (i.e., different tablets taste similar).

Several recommendations can be made based on the study findings. First, there is a need for educational interventions to provide the patients with adequate knowledge about generic medicines. This can be done by education from healthcare professionals (i.e. medical practitioners and pharmacists). In fact, direct education and advice from healthcare professionals are one of the most effective strategies.20,58 Moreover, current awareness programmes need to be continued and expanded to increase the level of patients’ awareness. It is important to have a comprehensive and well-designed promotion programme that address, from various perspectives, all aspects related to generic medicines including their approval and registration requirements, physical characteristics, quality, safety and efficacy.4 However, it should be noted that poorly managed programmes are a barrier to implementation of generic medicine policy.55 Moreover, less comprehensive educational campaigns may not achieve the goal and short programmes have minimal impact.37,60

As there is currently paucity of evidence based data regarding the ideal content and structure of patient educational programmes on generic medicines, it is important that future studies identify the most effective educational interventions.19

The study had some limitations. First, convenience sampling was the adopted sampling strategy. Moreover, this study was conducted only in one state. Hence, the findings might not be possible to be generalized to the whole country. However, it can provide useful data for health policy makers to further improve the use of generic medicines by considering the patients’ perspectives.

CONCLUSIONS

The study finding showed that only half of the participants were familiar with the term “generic medicine”. Moreover, almost half of the participants had negative belief in generic medicines. Similarly, many patients were not aware of the similarities and differences between generic and original brand medicines. Therefore, there is a need to provide the patients with adequate information about generic medicines including their about quality, safety and efficacy.