Impact of an educational program on knowledge and perceptions of physicians towards generic medicines in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the impact of an educational program on knowledge and perceptions of physicians towards generic medicines. Methods This is a single-cohort pre-/post-intervention study. It was conducted with physicians from different private hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The intervention was in the form of an interactive lecture that addressed several topics related to generic medicines. A validated questionnaire was used to assess the impact of the intervention on the knowledge and perceptions of physicians. Results A total of 28 out of 30 invited physicians agreed to attend and participate in the program (response rate 93.3%). The intervention improved the knowledge of physicians regarding the bioequivalence regulatory requirements (3.6% vs. 32.1% for pre- and post-intervention respectively, p = 0.008). Moreover, it improved their knowledge about several aspects of generic medicines including their bioequivalence, efficacy and safety ( p = 0.004, p = < 0.001, p = 0.034, respectively). The intervention had also a positive impact on the physicians’ perceptions. Conclusion The study findings showed that a simple, educational intervention could improve the knowledge and perceptions of physicians towards generic medicines.