Table 1.
Survey questions and aggregate responses
| Question | Average ± SD (or N (%) when applicable) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Age | 49.3 ± 12.6 | Multiple-choice question allowing one answer (ages 28 through 100 allowed) |
| 2. Gender | Male: 60 (65.2%) | Multiple-choice question |
| Female: 29 (31.5%) | ||
| Prefer not to say: 3 (3.3%) | ||
| 3. Residency graduation year | 2000.3 ± 13.4 | Multiple-choice question allowing one answer (years 1948 through 2018) |
| 4. US area of residency completion | Midwest: 56 (60.9%) | Multiple-choice question allowing one answer |
| Northeast: 17 (18.5%) | ||
| Southeast: 8 (8.7%) | ||
| Southwest: 8 (8.7%) | ||
| Northwest: 3 (3.3%) | ||
| 5. Primary area of specialization | General ophthalmology: 21 (22.8%) | Multiple-choice question allowing one answer |
| Cornea/external eye disease: 20 (21.7%) | ||
| Glaucoma: (18, 19.6%) | ||
| Retina: 16 (17.4%) | ||
| Pediatrics: 8 (8.7%) | ||
| Neuro-ophthalmology: 5 (5.4%) | ||
| Oculoplastics: 3 (3.3%) | ||
| Uveitis: 1 (1.1%) | ||
| 6. How many patients do you see on a normal clinic day? | < 15: 3 (3.3%) | Multiple-choice question allowing one answer |
|
16–20: 6 (6.5%) 21–25: 10 (10.9%) | ||
| 26–30: 21 (22.8%) | ||
| 31–35: 15 (16.3%) | ||
| 36–40: 17 (18.5%) | ||
| > 41: 20 (21.7%) | ||
| 7. Do you perform surgical procedures? | Yes: 81 (88%) | Multiple-choice question allowing one answer |
| No: 11 (12%) | ||
| 8. Do you feel that patient compliance is affected by generic usage vs. brand name? | Yes, my patients are more compliant when using generics: 20 (21.7%) | Multiple-choice question allowing one answer |
| Yes, my patients are more compliant when using brand names: 1 (1.1%) | ||
| No, my patient compliance is not affected to my knowledge: 53 (57.6%) | ||
| I have never looked into it: 18 (19.6%) | ||
| 9. Which classes of drugs do you feel comfortable with prescribing generics over brand name? (all are drops unless otherwise indicated) | Antibiotic–drops: 86 (93.5%) | Multiple-choice question allowing one or more answers |
| Antibiotic–oral: 87 (94.6%) | ||
| Steroid–drops: 78 (84.8%) | ||
| Steroid-oral: 84 (91.3%) | ||
| Beta blocker: 84 (91.3%) | ||
| Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: 82 (89.1%) | ||
| Prostaglandin analogs: 80 (87.0%) | ||
| Alpha agonists: 74 (80.4%) | ||
| Antihistamine: 72 (78.3%) | ||
| Antifungal: 46 (50%) | ||
| Sympathomimetics: 58 (63%) | ||
| Parasympathomimetics: 58 (63%) | ||
| Artificial tears: 66 (71.7%) | ||
| None: 1 (1.1%) | ||
| 10. How often do drug representatives visit your clinic? | Never: 27 (29.3%) | Multiple-choice question allowing one answer |
| 1–4 times per year: 22 (23.9%) | ||
| 1–2 times per month: 23 (25.0%) | ||
| 1–2 times per week: 11 (12.0%) | ||
| > 2 times per week: 9 (9.8%) | ||
| 11. How well do you feel you know the availability of generic options for drugs you commonly prescribe? | Practically not at all (1): 3 (3.3%) | Likert scale from 1 to 5 |
| 2: 4 (4.3%) | ||
| 3: 14 (15.2%) | ||
| 4: 34 (37.0%) | ||
| Extremely well (5): 37 (40.2%) | ||
| 12. How well do you feel you know the price differences between generics and brand-name drugs you commonly prescribe? | Practically not at all (1): 11 (12.0%) | Likert scale from 1 to 5 |
| 2: 14 (15.2%) | ||
| 3: 33 (35.9%) | ||
| 4: 27 (29.3%) | ||
| Extremely well (5): 7 (7.6%) | ||
| 13. Do you often try to switch patients from brand-name drugs to generic drugs? | Never (1): 8 (8.7%) | Likert scale from 1 to 5 |
| 2: 9 (9.8%) | ||
| 3: 26 (28.3%) | ||
| 4: 39 (42.4%) | ||
| Always (5): 10 (10.9%) | ||
| 14. Do you have any reservations about prescribing a generic drug in place of a brand-name drug? Check all that apply | I have no reservations: 51 (55.4%) | Multiple-choice question allowing one or more answers |
| Generics are less efficacious: 10 (10.9%) | ||
| Generics have less study data: 11 (12.0%) | ||
| Generics cause more side effects: 12 (13.0%) | ||
| Generics have additives that can vary based on batch which concerns me: 20 (21.7%) | ||
| Generics cause more adverse reactions: 10 (10.9%) | ||
| Generics have different colored tops which makes it hard for me to counsel my low vision patients on which drugs to take and how many drops to use: 11 (12.0%) | ||
| Generics get switched based on pharmacy contracts, and there is variation between generics that makes me uncomfortable for inconsistent treatment: 30 (32.6%) | ||
| I have financial interest that does not allow me to give an unbiased opinion on this matter: 0 (0%) | ||
| I do not feel I have enough knowledge about generics and therefore feel more comfortable with brand names: 2 (2.2%) | ||
|
I feel that the drug representatives influence my decision to prescribe more brand names: 2 (2.2%) Other: 7 (7.6%) | ||
| 15. Do you know the difference in the approval process by the Food and Drug Administration for generic versus brand-name drugs? |
I am not aware of a difference (1): 20 (21.7%) 2: 13 (14.1%) 3: 18 (19.6%) 4: 32 (34.8%) I understand it very well (5): 9 (9.8%) |
Likert scale from 1 to 5 |
| 16. Do you feel that you are aware of which patients are struggling financially? |
Practically not at all (1): 2 (2.2%) 2: 9 (9.8%) 3: 38 (41.3%) 4: 32 (34.8%) Extremely Well (5): 11 (12.0%) |
Likert scale from 1 to 5 |
| 17. Do you feel your patients prefer generic drugs over brand-name drugs? Put 3 if you are unsure of any preference |
My patients prefer brand-name drugs (1): 0 (0%) 2: 5 (5.4%) 3: 35 (38%) 4: 31 (33.7%) My patients prefer generic drugs (5): 21 (22.8%) |
Likert scale from 1 to 5 |
| 18. Does the severity of your patient’s disease make you more inclined to prescribe a brand-name drug over a generic? |
Practically not at all (1): 31 (33.7%) 2: 17 (18.5%) 3: 23 (25.0%) 4: 18 (19.6%) Extremely well (5): 3 (3.3%) |
Likert scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being “never” and 5 being “always” |
| 19. If severity does impact your decision, which is the correct reasoning you have for doing so? |
If disease is more severe, I prescribe a brand name: 25 (30.1%) If disease is more severe, I prescribe a generic: 0 (0%) If disease is more severe, then I have less preference for brand vs. generic than I do when the disease is less severe: 2 (2.4%) Severity does not impact my decision: 56 (67.5%) |
Multiple-choice question allowing one answer |
| 20. Do your patients ask about whether a new drug being prescribed is a generic or brand name? |
Never (1): 20 (21.7%) 2: 29 (31.5%) 3: 21 (22.8%) 4: 19 (20.7%) Always 5: 3 (3.3%) |
Likert scale from 1 to 5 |
| 21. Do you (anecdotally) feel that patient outcome is affected by whether the brand name of a drug is used as opposed to its corresponding generic? Put 3 if you do not feel there is any difference in outcome |
Better outcomes with generics (1): 1 (1.1%) 2: 1 (1.1%) 3: 72 (78.3%) 4: 18 (19.6%) Better outcomes with brand-names (5): 0 (0.0%) |
Likert scale from 1 to 5 |
| 22. If you had an eye disease, would you rather take a brand-name drug or a generic drug if both were FREE? Put 3 if you have no preference |
Generic drug (1): 2 (2.2%) 2: 1 (1.1%) 3: 36 (39.1%) 4: 13 (14.1%) Brand-name drug (5): 40 (43.5%) |
Likert scale from 1 to 5 |
| 23. If you had an eye disease, would you rather take a brand-name drug or a generic drug? Put 3 if you have no preference |
Generic drug (1): 10 (10.9%) 2: 7 (7.6%) 3: 40 (43.5%) 4: 20 (21.7%) Brand-name drug (5): 15 (16.3%) |
Likert scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being “generic drug” and 5 being “brand-name drug” |
| 24. I would prescribe more generics if: check all that apply |
I would still exhibit the same prescribing habits even if the following were done: 34 (37%) If more data was available on generic efficacy: 30 (32.6%) If I was more informed on the cost difference: 34 (37%) If my patients asked for a generic: 37 (40.2%) If the generics had the same color tops as the brand name type so I can counsel my low vision patients the same with generics as brand name: 21 (22.8%) If I knew my patient would stay on only one generic brand rather than getting switched based on pharmacy contract/supply: 41 (44.6%) If more data was available on long-term side effects/adverse reactions with generic drugs: 18 (19.6%) If my patients felt more comfortable receiving a generic than they are now: 10 (10.9%) If I was more aware of my patient’s financial situation: 16 (17.4%) |
Multiple-choice question allowing one or more answers |