In a systematic review titled “Influencers of Generic Drug Utilization,” researchers aimed to shed light on the key factors influencing the use of generic prescription drugs in the United States. The review, published in the journal Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, delves into the critical need to encourage the adoption of generic drugs while emphasizing the importance of public perception and information availability to maximize their utilization.
With prescription drug spending on the rise, finding ways to control costs and provide timely access to safe and affordable medications becomes crucial. Generic drugs, which accounted for 89% of filled prescriptions but only 27% of total prescription costs in 2016, play a pivotal role in this endeavor. Policy-level efforts, such as the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2012 (GDUFA), have been introduced to increase the availability of affordable prescription drugs.
The systematic review, conducted between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2015, utilized multiple search engines and screening criteria to identify relevant empirical studies. Out of over 3000 citations, 67 articles were included in the review. These articles revealed seven domains of factors influencing generic drug utilization: patient-related factors, formulary management or cost containment, healthcare policies, promotional activities, educational initiatives, technology, and physician-related factors.
The review emphasizes that various stakeholders, including patients, physicians, pharmacists, formulary managers, and policymakers, play crucial roles in the adoption of generic drugs. Understanding these factors can aid in guiding future policy, education, and practice interventions to promote the use of generic drugs effectively.
While generic drug use has increased over the past decade, it still varies across different drug classes and categories. Some therapeutic classes, such as antihypertensives, antidepressants, antidiabetics, statins, and antibiotics, have seen widespread generic drug usage. However, certain categories, such as sterile injectables, specialty drugs, atypical antipsychotics, and drugs with a narrow therapeutic index (NTI), have shown limited generic drug utilization.
The systematic review serves as an essential resource for researchers and policymakers, offering valuable insights into the factors that influence generic drug use. By focusing future efforts on patient-related and formulary management factors, policymakers can encourage increased generic drug utilization and contribute to more cost-effective healthcare.
