Pharmacists' perceptions of generic drugs in China

Abstract

Perceptions of Chinese pharmacists towards generic drugs were evaluated by a cross-sectional study from Aug. 2018 to Dec. 2018. Online survey tool Sojump was adopted to release the questionnaires using convenience sampling. A total of 577 questionnaires by pharmacists were analyzed. A meaningful proportion of pharmacists expressed negative perceptions of generic drugs, such as perceiving generics as less effective, less safe and more likely to cause side effects compared to their branded equivalents. Educational campaigns that focus on misperceptions of generic drugs may be necessary.