Social Representations of Generic Drugs in Polymedicated Adult Patients in Bogotá

Abstract

Introduction: Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient, concentration, and quality standards as brand/pioneer drugs at a lower price; however, their use is made difficult by ignorance, cultural perceptions, and potential induced judgments that affect the acceptability and trust of the population regarding these products.

Objective: To perform an interpretation of the social representations of generic drugs in polymedicated adult patients in the city of Bogotá.

Methods: A qualitative-interpretative research was carried out in male and female patients between 22 and 71 years of age from three hospital institutions in the city for the period 2018-2019, in which three qualitative techniques were applied: association network, semi-structured interview, and focus groups. With the data obtained, content analysis was performed to establish categories of analysis and social representation.

Results: Seven categories were established: most affordable product, lack of knowledge of the term, therapeutic performance, quality, safety, sources of information and mediation by the Government-Health Agency, which formed the figurative core of the representation.

Conclusions: Generic medicine was conceived as a tangible product, represented in both positive and negative meanings; its low cost was the main element that guided consumption and its lower therapeutic performance, which guided rejection.