Knowledge and Perception of Consumers Towards Generic Medicines in Saudi Arabia: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Brand-to-generic medicine substitution has been a common practice worldwide as one of the strategies to reduce pharmaceutical expenditure and sustain health care systems. The perspective of patients as end-users of these medicines is one of crucial factors in enhancing generic medicines' utilization. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the consumers' knowledge, perception, and current use of generic medicines in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study using a purposive sampling technique was conducted among adults aged 18 years and above in Saudi Arabia from December 2023 to January 2024. The study participants comprised the adult population aged 18 years and above living in Saudi Arabia. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data, and all statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS. Results: In total, 691 adults participated in this study. About fifty percent of the participants had used generic medications and knew what generic medications meant (41.0%). There was a relatively positive perception towards generic medication in only about one-third of the participants; they either perceive that generics relieve symptoms as brand medication, generics would provide significant savings, or the physicians should always prescribe a generic medication if it's available. Conclusions: While there was some knowledge of generic medications' cost advantages, still significant gaps in knowledge and trust might hinder their widespread adoption. Addressing these challenges through targeted educational and policy interventions is crucial to promote the use of generic medications. By doing so, we can ensure that consumers have the information and confidence they need to make informed decisions about their medications.