RESEARCH ARTICLE: Final year pharmacy students’ knowledge and perceptions towards generic medicines: A survey-based pilot study from Eastern province, Saudi Arabia

Authors

  • Sherihan Ahmad Ghosn Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Saudi Arabia
  • Mohammad Daud Ali Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Saudi Arabia
  • Zahra Ahmed Alzaher Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Saudi Arabia
  • Ayaz Ahmad Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2022.221.221225

Keywords:

Bioequivalence, Generic medicine, Knowledge, Pharmacy student, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objective: A prospective cross-sectional survey-based pilot study was conducted amongst final year pharmacy students at a private pharmacy college in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, to evaluate the knowledge and perception toward generic medicines.    

Methods: This online survey-based study was carried out amongst all final year students enrolled in the pharmacy programme between 1 February and 30 April 2020.    

Results: The response rate was 95.56%. Most participants (66.27%) agreed that generic products are therapeutically equivalent to the innovator brand product, and 75.57% reported the need for more information on how bioequivalence tests are conducted for generic medicines. Furthermore, 34.88% agreed that generic medicines are of inferior quality to brand drugs and 73.24% reported the need for more information on the issues pertaining to the safety and efficacy of generic medicines.    

Conclusion: This study showed that fifth-year pharmacy students had a basic knowledge of generic medicines, with an ambivalent perception of generics’ quality and safety standards. A number of collaborative initiatives should be planned and executed to equip future pharmacists with broad knowledge concerning generic medications.

Author Biographies

Sherihan Ahmad Ghosn, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Saudi Arabia

Department of Pharmacy

Mohammad Daud Ali, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Saudi Arabia

Department of Pharmacy

Zahra Ahmed Alzaher, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Saudi Arabia

Department of Pharmacy

Ayaz Ahmad , Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Saudi Arabia

Department of Pharmacy

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Published

17-03-2022

How to Cite

Ghosn, S. A. ., Ali, M. D., Alzaher, Z. A. ., & Ahmad , A. . (2022). RESEARCH ARTICLE: Final year pharmacy students’ knowledge and perceptions towards generic medicines: A survey-based pilot study from Eastern province, Saudi Arabia. Pharmacy Education, 22(1), p. 221–225. https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2022.221.221225

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Research Article