Date of Completion

2024

Document Type

Community Medicine

Degree Name

Doctor of Medicine

Keywords

Hypertension, generic drugs

Abstract

The prevalence of hypertension in the Philippines serves as a call for an investigation on the behaviors and outlook of Filipinos towards the disease and its management, specifically in the use of generic drugs—which albeit the low cost and equal effectiveness—still has the tendency to be set aside in favor of branded innovator drugs. 186 hypertensive patients aged 30 to 70 consulting at the DLSUMC OPD were assessed on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the use of generic drugs via the use of a self-administered survey questionnaire, for the purpose of evaluating and characterizing their responses in regards to the Filipino mindset on the management of hypertension. In this cross-sectional descriptive survey, it was noted that although respondents were more likely to trust brand name drugs and doctors that prescribed brand-name drugs, the majority of the participants still showed a high level of knowledge in the use of generics, trusted its safety, and acknowledged its lower price. Misconceptions towards generic medicines may still be present among hypertensive Filipinos but the overall positive attitude towards the safety, potency, and cost-effectivity of generic medications for long-term health outcomes justified the majority’s decision to keep using generic drugs for their maintenance medication. The study emphasized the need for further health education programs to clear up any lapses in information and a more in-depth investigation on other important determinants that could impact patients’ choices and aid in their compliance towards hypertension maintenance medicine.

First Advisor

Nanette Ramilo-Cruz, MD

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