Generic versus brand-name over-the-counter analgesics: knowledge and attitudes among Swedish pharmacy customers

Helle Håkonsen,Dina Alani,Tove Hedenrud,Maria Wängberg

doi:10.1186/s40545-020-00269-5

Helle Håkonsen, Dina Alani + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-020-00269-5

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Abstract

BackgroundDue to a liberalisation reform in 2009, the availability of over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics has increased significantly in the Swedish market over the past decade. With the increasing number of generic products available on the market and the possibility of buying OTC drugs from non-pharmacy outlets, a key to safe drug use is that consumers possess the necessary knowledge to differentiate between the different brands and choose the appropriate drug for their ailments. The aim of this study was to investigate Swedish consumers’ knowledge of and attitudes towards generic OTC analgesics.MethodsA sample of 209 Swedish adults (66% women; mean age 43.1 years) who bought OTC analgesics at a community pharmacy in one of the country’s three largest cities responded to a structured questionnaire. The questions related to knowledge of active substances, the use and choice of OTC analgesics (generic or original brand), attitudes towards generic OTC analgesics, information received about OTC analgesics and experience with generic substitution of prescription drugs.ResultsAlmost one in five reported weekly use of OTC analgesics, and 32% assigned minimum three out of four active substances to the correct brand(s) of OTC analgesics. Among the 50 participants (24%) who assigned all four active substances correctly, it was predominantly women and participants with higher education. Four out of five participants were positive towards the cheaper brands, and 69% reportedly chose cheaper generic brands over more expensive brands. Knowledge about the active substances of different brands was associated with positive attitudes towards generic products.ConclusionSwedish pharmacy customers have to a varying extent the knowledge to differentiate between different brands of commonly used OTC analgesics in terms of active substances. There is a predominantly positive attitude towards generic OTC analgesics, although some consider generic drugs to be inferior and stay loyal to the original brands.

Highlights

Due to a liberalisation reform in 2009, the availability of over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics has increased significantly in the Swedish market over the past decade
Eighty per cent of those who gave correct answers had been offered a generic substitute of a prescription drug, and 86.0% had bought generic OTC analgesics
This study shows that Swedish pharmacy customers to a varying extent have the knowledge needed to identify the active substances in commonly used OTC analgesics

Summary

Introduction

Due to a liberalisation reform in 2009, the availability of over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics has increased significantly in the Swedish market over the past decade. With the increasing number of generic products available on the market and the possibility of buying OTC drugs from non-pharmacy outlets, a key to safe drug use is that consumers possess the necessary knowledge to differentiate between the different brands and choose the appropriate drug for their ailments. Increased availability of OTC drugs may provide the possibility for people to take more responsibility of the management of their own health and enhance self-care of minor ailments. Analgesics, which constitute the most commonly used group of OTC drugs, is the group of drugs most frequently bought from non-pharmacy outlets [3] These drugs are generally well known and perceived by consumers as less risky than other OTC drugs [4]. After a comprehensive Danish study concluded that diclofenac poses a significant cardiovascular health risk compared with non-use and use of paracetamol, ibuprofen and naproxen [9], oral formulations of diclofenac were restricted to prescription use only from June 1, 2020

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