title: Use of generic drugs in São Paulo city, Brazil, in 2003: a population-based study.
abstract: to analyze the use and perception of generic drugs by people with diabetes and hypertension in São Paulo City, Brazil, considering the Brazilian Generic Drug Policy.
  
  
  
  this was a cross-sectional study using data from a household health survey (ISA-Capital) in 2003; analysis was performed on knowledge regarding generic drugs and on the association between their use and sociodemographic and socio-economic characteristics.
  
  
  
  603 people with hypertension and diabetes were included in the study, low use of generic drugs was found (33.3% and 26.3, respectively) and low cost was the major reported advantage of generic drugs (71.0% and 71.1%, respectively); there was no statistically significant difference between the use of generic medication and age, sex or schooling.
  
  
  
  low cost and there being no difference between generic drug use and education level strengthen the importance of generic drugs for promoting equity and universal access to medication.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo-SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Camila Nascimento
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo-SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Reinaldo José
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gianini
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso, Departamento de Estatística, Cuiabá-MT, Brasil.
authors.forename: Neuber José
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Segri
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo-SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Moisés
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldbaum
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas-SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marilisa Berti de Azevedo
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, São Paulo-SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Chester Luiz Galvão
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cesar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016527:Drug Costs; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016568:Drugs, Generic