Generic switching: Do future physicians in Jordan have enough knowledge and a positive attitude?

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical policy
• Medical education
• Health economics

Background:

• Generic switching policies aim to reduce pharmaceutical costs and mitigate drug shortages.
• Independent pharmacist generic switching is not universally adopted; Jordan's policy is limited to Ministry of Health hospitals.
• Understanding future healthcare professionals' perspectives on generic switching is crucial for policy implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess medical students' experiences, knowledge, and attitudes regarding generic drug switching in Jordan.
• To evaluate students' understanding of patient rights, drug monitoring, and allergy considerations in generic switching.
• To identify factors influencing medical students' knowledge and attitudes towards pharmacist-led generic switching.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional online survey was conducted among fourth, fifth, and sixth-year medical students in Jordan.
• The study included 390 participants who completed a questionnaire developed from relevant literature.
• Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and multivariate linear regression to identify predictors of knowledge.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated higher knowledge in patient rights and post-switching monitoring but generally lacked comprehensive understanding.
• Nearly half of the students opposed granting pharmacists the right to independently switch drugs.
• Knowledge was significantly predicted by gender, GPA, and family income, with no correlation to attitudes towards pharmacist autonomy.

Conclusions:

• Jordanian medical students possess inadequate knowledge regarding generic drug switching policies and practices.
• Enhanced education is required to inform students about the regulations, roles, and benefits of generic switching.
• Fostering a more positive attitude among future prescribers is essential for the successful implementation of generic switching.