‘Not the full Monty’: a qualitative study of seniors’ perceptions of generic medicines in Western Australia
Caroline Bulsara A C , Anne McKenzie B , Frank Sanfilippo B , C. D’Arcy J. Holman B and Jon E. Emery AA School of Primary, Aboriginal and Rural Health Care, The University of Western Australia, 328 Stirling Highway, Claremont, WA 6010, Australia.
B School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: caroline.bulsara@uwa.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 16(3) 240-245 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY10006
Published: 6 September 2010
Abstract
The study explored consumers’ perspectives on generic medicine use in Australia. A qualitative methodology was used to explore the topic, including community participation in the form of forums, focus groups and a panel of seniors. Three consumer forums were held from which a seniors’ panel was formed and a series of focus groups were conducted. Participants demonstrated considerable mistrust of generic medicines. Participants highlighted their uncertainty about the extent of pharmaceutical companies’ influence on health professionals, the mistrust of foreign generic manufacturers and scepticism in their equivalence. In addition, the substitution of generic medicines and variability in packaging added to the overall concern and reported poor compliance. Altering consumers’ beliefs and attitudes about generic medicines might require a more concerted effort to reduce consumer mistrust. Consumers’ beliefs about generic medicines will strongly affect attempts to increase generic prescribing in Australia. Many seniors require multiple medications for a range of chronic conditions. Currently however, the lack of uniformity in information and packaging implies that closer monitoring, greater clarity of information and improved packaging of generic medicines is required. Otherwise, the widespread problems and lower uptake of generic medicines amongst seniors will remain.
Additional keywords: compliance, medications safety.
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Acknowledgement is also given to the seniors who participated in the panel during all phases of the research and also those who gave their time to participate in focus groups and in the original forums.
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