TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge, perception and attitude of community pharmacists towards generic medicines in Karachi, Pakistan
T2 - A qualitative insight
AU - Jamshed, Shazia Q.
AU - Hassali, Mohamed A.A.
AU - Ibrahim, Mohamed I.M.
AU - Shafie, Asrul A.
AU - Babar, Zaheer
PY - 2010/8/1
Y1 - 2010/8/1
N2 - Purpose: In an era of escalating healthcare costs and ageing population, there is a need for cost effective measures. This study was aimed to investigate the knowledge, perception and attitude of community pharmacists towards generic medicines. Methods: A qualitative methodology was adopted. Snowball sampling technique was used to identify eight community pharmacists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the pharmacists until the point of saturation was obtained. The interviews, which were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim, were evaluated by thematic content analysis and further verified by other authors' analyses. Results: Thematic content analysis identified three major themes: knowledge of generic medicines, perception towards generic medicines, and attitude towards generic medicines. All the pharmacists showed good understanding and positive perception towards generic medicines. Mixed responses were observed regarding dispensing of locally manufactured medicines. Low cost was cited as the major determinant in dispensing locally manufactured generics. Conclusion: The current study showed good knowledge and perception towards generic medicines among community pharmacists in Karachi, Pakistan. It also highlighted mixed attitudes towards generic medicine dispensing. A 24-hour mandatory presence of professionally qualified pharmacists in community pharmacies can boost the confidence of doctors in pharmacists and enhance generic substitution.
AB - Purpose: In an era of escalating healthcare costs and ageing population, there is a need for cost effective measures. This study was aimed to investigate the knowledge, perception and attitude of community pharmacists towards generic medicines. Methods: A qualitative methodology was adopted. Snowball sampling technique was used to identify eight community pharmacists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the pharmacists until the point of saturation was obtained. The interviews, which were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim, were evaluated by thematic content analysis and further verified by other authors' analyses. Results: Thematic content analysis identified three major themes: knowledge of generic medicines, perception towards generic medicines, and attitude towards generic medicines. All the pharmacists showed good understanding and positive perception towards generic medicines. Mixed responses were observed regarding dispensing of locally manufactured medicines. Low cost was cited as the major determinant in dispensing locally manufactured generics. Conclusion: The current study showed good knowledge and perception towards generic medicines among community pharmacists in Karachi, Pakistan. It also highlighted mixed attitudes towards generic medicine dispensing. A 24-hour mandatory presence of professionally qualified pharmacists in community pharmacies can boost the confidence of doctors in pharmacists and enhance generic substitution.
KW - Community pharmacist
KW - Generic medicine
KW - Pakistan
KW - Qualitative methodology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78349246731&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4314/tjpr.v9i4.58943
DO - 10.4314/tjpr.v9i4.58943
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:78349246731
VL - 9
SP - 409
EP - 415
JO - Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
JF - Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
SN - 1596-5996
IS - 4
ER -