[Prescription of generic drugs in general practice. Results of a survey of general practitioners].
OBJECTIVE
Switching brand-name drugs to generics is reasonable and desired for economic reasons. Few data exist about problems, if any, during the switching in general practice. In this survey, the view of general practitioners (GPs) should be ascertained.


METHODS
GPs in five counties in the German federal states Thüringen and Baden-Württemberg, who took part in a study on generic drug prescribing, were asked to complete a questionnaire about experiences and attitudes toward generic drug prescription.


RESULTS
A total of 195 (84%) of 233 GPs answered the questionnaire. Two thirds (127/195) stated, that brands and generics are pharmacologically equivalent. Many of these GPs estimated to prescribe generic drugs in > 50% of instances; fewer doctors did so, if they had doubts as to the equivalence of generics (65% vs. 46%; p < 0.05). Nearly 8% reported generics being less effective, and 10% observed new adverse effects after switching. Many GPs appointed the following barriers: cooperation with hospitals and colleagues (86%), GP's lack of time (68%), and communication problems with the patient (50%). GPs estimated that > 10% of patients strictly reject generic drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
An optimized cooperation between GPs and hospital physicians could facilitate the consumption of generic potential in pharmacotherapy. Reasons for the obvious contrast between the proven pharmacological equivalence of brand-name and generic drugs and the problems encountered after switching reported by GPs should be further studied.
Simmenroth-Nayda
Anne
A
Abteilung Allgemeinmedizin, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Humboldtallee 38, 37073 Göttingen. asimmen@gwdg.de
Hummers-Pradier
Eva
E
Ledig
Thomas
T
Jansen
Rolf
R
Niebling
Wilhelm
W
Bjerre
Lise M
LM
Kochen
Michael M
MM
Himmel
Wolfgang
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000191:economics*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D016568:Drugs, Generic