TABLE 1.
Summary of answers to survey questions
|
Survey Question (Numbers correspond to the question numbers on actual survey.) |
Options | Responses (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prescriptive practices (n = 737) | Must have prescription | 658 (89.3) |
| No prescription needed | 13 (1.8) | |
| Prescription for controlled substance only | 66 (9.0) | |
| 2. Level of regulatory control (n = 718) | Extensive | 397 (55.3) |
| Moderate | 273 (38.0) | |
| Poor | 48 (6.7) | |
| 3. Amount of education on generic substitution (n = 706) | None | 189 (26.8) |
| One continuing education program | 112 (15.7) | |
| More than one continuing education program | 268 (38.0) | |
| Research on generic medications | 64 (9.1) | |
| Other | 73 (10.3) | |
| 4. Drug products available in your country (n = 702) | Only brand name (no generics) | 17 (2.4) |
| Only approved generic products (no brand names) | 7 (1.0) | |
| Brand name and approved generic products | 576 (82.1) | |
| Brand name, approved, and unapproved generic products | 93 (13.3) | |
| Only approved and unapproved generic products (no brand name) | 0 (0) | |
| Only products on essential medication list | 1 (0.1) | |
| Other | 8 (1.1) | |
| 5. Definition of Bioequivalence (n = 691) | Drug products that are therapeutic equivalents for the same indication | 387 (56.0) |
| Drug products with equivalent absorption of the same drug (correct answer) | 275 (39.8) | |
| Different dosage forms of the same drug | 8 (1.2) | |
| I do not know | 21 (3.0) | |
| 6. Standards for bioequivalence established by (687) | National or federal government | 325 (47.3) |
| Provincial, state, or local government | 10 (1.5) | |
| Standards from other countries adopted | 85 (12.4) | |
| Pharmaceutical companies | 82 (11.9) | |
| I do not know | 165 (24.0) | |
| Other | 20 (2.9) | |
| 7. Adopt standards from other countries (n = 650) | EMA | 194 (29.6) |
| USFDA | 201 (30.9) | |
| HealthCanada | 9 (1.4) | |
| PharmRussia | 1 (0.2) | |
| I do not know | 197 (30.3) | |
| Other | 48 (7.4) | |
| 9. Believe that generic products equally safe and effective (n = 688) | Yes | 269 (40.3) |
| No | 151 (22.6) | |
| Undecided | 248 (37.1) | |
| 10. Greatest concern with generic products (n = 785) | Limited access to generic products | 92 (11.7) |
| Poor or inconsistent quality | 286 (36.4) | |
| Too expensive | 53 (6.8) | |
| Lack of regulatory control | 202 (25.7) | |
| Other | 152 (19.4) | |
| 11. Percent of patients you prescribe for AED (n = 641) | Less than 10% | 62 (9.7) |
| 11%‐25% | 147 (22.9) | |
| 26%‐50% | 132 (20.6) | |
| 51%‐75% | 134 (20.9) | |
| More than 75% | 166 (25.9) | |
| 12. Patients automatically switched to generic product (n = 654) | Always | 30 (4.6) |
| Always, unless physician or prescriber designates dispense as written | 227 (34.7) | |
| No | 352 (53.8) | |
| Unsure | 45 (6.9) | |
| 13. Percent of prescriptions you write for generic products (n = 638) | Less than 10% | 117 (18.3) |
| 11%‐25% | 100 (15.7) | |
| 26%‐50% | 185 (29.0) | |
| 51%‐75% | 110 (17.2) | |
| More than 75% | 126 (19.8) | |
| 14. Percent of patients actually taking generic product (n = 641) | Less than 10% | 70 (10.9) |
| 11%‐25% | 102 (15.9) | |
| 26%‐50% | 205 (32.0) | |
| 51%‐75% | 166 (25.9) | |
| More than 75% | 98 (15.3) | |
| 15. Percent of patients who actually receive the product written on the prescription (n = 635) | Less than 10% | 76 (12.0) |
| 10%‐25% | 68 (10.7) | |
| 26%‐50% | 102 (16.1) | |
| 51%‐75% | 74 (11.7) | |
| More than 75% | 259 (40.8) | |
| I do not know | 56 (8.8) | |
| 16. What have you observed with generic substitution (n = 609) | Increase seizure frequency | 245 (40.2) |
| Change in seizure semiology or characteristics | 40 (6.8) | |
| Increased dose‐ or concentration‐related toxicity | 105 (17.2) | |
| Increased allergic or idiosyncratic toxicity | 55 (9.0) | |
| Other | 164 (26.9) | |
| 19. Most agree with this statement (n = 593) | All approved generic products should be considered therapeutically equivalent to brand products | 210 (35.4) |
| Some approved generic products should be considered therapeutically equivalent to brand products | 253 (42.9) | |
| No approved generic product should be considered therapeutically equivalent to brand products | 28 (4.7) | |
| I need more information about substitution of a generic for a brand product | 102 (17.2) | |
| 20. Profession (n = 596) | Medical doctor | 549 (92.1) |
| Nurse | 11 (1.9) | |
| Nurse practitioner/advanced nurse practitioner | 16 (2.7) | |
| Pharmacist | 8 (1.3) | |
| Physician assistant | 2 (0.3) | |
| Clinical officer | 1 (0.2) | |
| Psychologist | 0 (0) | |
| Other | 9 (1.5) | |
| 21. Specialty (n = 594) | Primary care physician | 8 (1.4) |
| General adult neurologist | 190 (32.0) | |
| General child or pediatric neurologist | 89 (15.0) | |
| Adult epileptologist | 154 (25.9) | |
| Child or pediatric epileptologist | 65 (10.9) | |
| Neurosurgeon | 13 (2.2) | |
| Psychiatrist | 14 (2.4) | |
| Psychologist | 0 (0) | |
| Neurodevelopmental pediatric specialist | 7 (1.2) | |
| General nurse | 0 (0) | |
| Primary care nurse practitioner | 0 (0) | |
| Epilepsy nurse practitioner | 25 (4.2) | |
| General pharmacist | 3 (0.5) | |
| Board certified pharmacy specialist | 3 (0.5) | |
| Physician assistant | 0 (0) | |
| Pediatrician | 7 (1.2) | |
| Other | 15 (2.7) | |
| 27. Practice setting (n = 592) | Community Private Hospital | 66 (11.5) |
| University Hospital | 185 (31.3) | |
| Government Public Hospital | 128 (21.6) | |
| Primary Care Clinic | 14 (2.4) | |
| Secondary Care Clinic | 12 (2.0) | |
| Tertiary Care Clinic | 47 (7.9) | |
| Neurology Clinic | 62 (10.5) | |
| Specialty Epilepsy Center | 46 (7.8) | |
| Other | 32 (5.4) | |
| 22. Age (n = 593) | Less than 29 years | 31 (5.2) |
| 30‐39 years | 133 (22.4) | |
| 40‐49 years | 173 (29.2) | |
| 50‐59 years | 147 (24.8) | |
| 60‐69 years | 88 (14.8) | |
| 70 years or older | 21 (3.5) | |
| 23. Sex (n = 592) | Female | 330 (55.7) |
| Male | 262 (44.3) | |
| 24. ILAE region of practice (n = 591) | Africa | 28 (4.7) |
| Asia‐Oceania | 261 (44.2) | |
| North Africa and Eastern Mediterranean | 12 (2.0) | |
| Europe | 228 (38.6) | |
| Latin America | 46 (7.8) | |
| North America | 16 (2.7) |