Table 3 Reasons for not substituting indicated by frequent (≥ 5%) and less frequent (< 5%) users of the Not for Generic Substitution mention
Reasons for not substituting medication a | NGS b mention < 5%: n (%) | NGS b mention ≥5%: n (%) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
Patient age over 65 | 17 (14.5) | 69 (44.0) | < 0.001 |
Higher efficacy of the brand-name drug | 19 (16.1) | 44 (28.2) | 0.02 |
Does not believe in bioequivalence | 21 (17.7) | 45 (28.9) | 0.03 |
Benign adverse effect | 21 (17.7) | 37 (23.7) | 0.22 |
Severe adverse effect | 27 (22.7) | 31 (20.0) | 0.59 |
Monographies and scientific journals | 7 (6.2) | 15 (10.1) | 0.26 |
Regulatory agency guidelines | 11 (9.6) | 8 (5.5) | 0.21 |
Advice by specialist | 20 (17.2) | 32 (20.7) | 0.48 |
Patient request | 47 (39.8) | 102 (65.0) | < 0.001 |
Patient comorbidity | 11 (9.3) | 56 (36.4) | < 0.001 |
Polypharmacy | 16 (13.7) | 61 (39.4) | < 0.001 |
Physician’s personal choice for other reasons (routine, desire to use drug names the patient is familiar with …) | 4 (3.4) | 12 (7.9) | 0.12 |