Abstract
BACKGROUND: Generic medicines reduce the cost and improve affordability. Having precise knowledge of generic medicine consideration among senior pharmacy and medical students will enhance the impact of generic substitution. The study was conducted to evaluate the understanding and perception of generic medicines among future practitioners (FP, final year pharmacy, and medical students) in Abbottabad, Pakistan. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using a closed-ended questionnaire was conducted, and the questionnaire was sent to 600 participants (FP) in the academic setting (colleges). Four hundred and fifty-three FP responded to the questionnaires, achieving a response rate of 75%. The chi-square test highlighted the factors influencing students' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding generic substitution. RESULTS: Comparing the generic medicines to the innovator medicines, 62% (78.74) of the pharmacy students and 50.67% (165.2) of the medical students had correct knowledge. Only 48% (217.44) of the FP was aware of bioequivalence. Out of these 48% of FP, 62% (78.17) were pharmacy and 43% (140.54) were medical students. About the efficacy, 50% (227.99) of the FP had awareness (57% pharmacy and 48% medical). Overall, 53.5% of the FP had positive perception about the safety of generic products. A maximum number of the FP, 79% (357.87), had well-held beliefs regarding the cost of generics. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals that future practitioners have a significant knowledge gap regarding generic medications. Students with different demographic characteristics, such as age, education, residence, institution, and accommodation, exhibited varying levels of knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions. The current study indicated a good knowledge, perception and beliefs of pharmacy students, and deficiencies were identified in the knowledge of medical students.