Abstract
We conducted a training program at a pharmacy school to enhance students' understanding of the characteristics and roles of generic drugs. The program reviewed the quality (4 evaluation items), formulation properties, information delivery systems, drug supply systems (4 evaluation items), and patient's copayment for four types of formulations, each with brand-name and generic versions. This study evaluated the students' cognitive changes in regard to generic drugs and analyzed factors influencing these changes as well as the students' satisfaction with and opinions about the usefulness of the training. A questionnaire was distributed to 158 students who participated in the program in 2011, and 151 fully completed questionnaires were analyzed using regression analysis. Results indicate that the training program enhanced the students' interest in generic drugs. Of the evaluation items mentioned above, bioequivalence, name and appearance, drug adjuvant, formulation properties, and listing in the Japanese version of the Orange Book were positively correlated with understanding of generic drugs by using regression analysis. These findings suggest that the program was useful in increasing the students' understanding of the characteristics and roles of generic drugs. This was also considered to lead to a better ability to choose the appropriate drugs based on patients’ needs and usability.
