Abstract
Introduction:The use of biological medicines has grown worldwide and has been paralleled with improved quality of life in patients due to better management of many disorders, particularly inflammatory diseases and cancer. The use of biological medicines pauses challenges with regard to appreciating the minimum requirements for appropriate therapeutic response. Hence, it is envisaged that clinicians need to understand the major determinants of response and toxicity to biological medicines in their local population of patients to ensure cost-effective use of biological medicines. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate for factors that influence the utilization of biological medicines in South Africa.
Methods: Using a questionnaire, a prospective survey was conducted on newly qualified doctors and still practicing in the Mangaung district in the Free State. The doctors were identified at their point of work. Information sought included; the doctor's particulars, experience in the use of biological medicines, available medical information resource on biological medicines, their role in patient's care/management using biological medicines, their perception of biological medicines with regard to efficacy, toxicity or other, any problems with obtaining biological medicine, and procurement processes.
Results: Out the 79 newly qualified doctors that were identified, 79,7% (n=63) completed the questionnaire. From these, 63% did not know what biological medicine are, 83,0% (n=53) indicated that biological medicine are not readily available to all clinicians, 65,9 % (n=44) suggested that there should be more lectures and seminars on biological medicines, 52,3% (n=44) suggested that there should be more specific guidelines for use of biological medicines in textbooks; 11,4% (n=44) suggested that more education is needed at undergraduate level, and 76,2% (n=63) indicated that biological medicine is difficult to use because they do not have adequate knowledge on the pharmacology of biological medicines.
Conclusion: There is a general lack of knowledge on biological medicines among the newly qualified doctors, therefore, there is a need to educate these young doctors about biological medicines, and support in form of guidelines on the use of biological medicines to ensure that current patients benefit. Furthermore, there is a need for more emphasis on biological medicines during undergraduate training.
