Factors Influencing the Perception of Physicians towards Generic Medicines Prescription and Practices: The case of Private Hospitals in Addis Ababa
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Date
2020-10
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A.A.U
Abstract
Generic medicines have the same quality, safety, and efficacy as their counterpart brand
medicines. Generic medicines are produced by multiple manufacturers hence, are usually
cheaper and be cost effective than innovator brand. This research aimed to examine physicians’
perception towards generic medications and factors influencing their practice in prescribing
generic medicines among private hospitals in Addis Ababa. Cross-sectional study was conducted
with physicians working in private hospitals of Addis Ababa. Data were collected using selfadministered
structured questionnaires measuring physicians’ perception towards generic
medicines and their prescription using a Likert scale of 1–5. A total of 195(95%) of physicians
responds from 205 physicians. Data were then entered into SPSS version 23 for analysis. Both
descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data and the result was interpreted.
Most of the physicians had good knowledge about generic medicines .However; there were gaps
on the efficacy, quality and safety of generics medicines. A significant proportion of physicians
do not have positive perceptions of generic medicine. However, More than three fourth of
physicians believed generic medicines contributed to cost-effective management of disease and
could improve access to medications. Whereas significant numbers of physicians believed
generic medicines were only meant for poor, and have concerns on their efficacy quality and
safety. From regression result, except cost all independent variables have strong positive and
statistically significant relationship between these independent variables with both dependent
variables. The most influential factors affecting the physicians’ generic prescription practice
were knowledge about generic medicine and safety, quality and efficacy of the generic
medicines. Finally the study conclude that majority of the physicians not have positive
perception and had concerns about safety, quality and the efficacy of generic medicines. There is
a low generic medicine prescription rate and physicians preferred to prescribe originator drug
product. It requested the support of stakeholders to improve the utilization of generic medicines
and more scientific evidence about the safety and efficacy of generic medicines will improve
generic prescribing.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to Addis Ababa University College of Business and
Economics School of Graduate Studies MBA Program in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Award of Master Business Administration in Management.
Keywords
Generic medicine prescription, Generic medicine, Perception, physician