Knowledge and Perceptions of Hospital Pharmacists towards Biological Products and Biosimilars
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Abstract
Objective: To explore knowledge, perceptions and administration of biological products and biosimilars among Thai hospital pharmacists. Methods: This research was a cross-sectional descriptive study using mailed survey. The surveys were sent to 524 hospital pharmacists across Thailand during July and August 2013 to acquire information about knowledge, perceptions and needs for support about biologics and biosimilars. Results: 306 questionnaires were returned (58.40 % response rate), with highest response rate of 80.00% from regional hospitals and lowest response rate of 43.01% from private hospitals. Among the respondents, 80.86% and 54.13% had ever received information about biologics and biosimilars, respectively. More than 80% correctly answered the questions regarding storage and selection criteria of biologics. Less than 50% correctly answered the questions about biosimilars. More than 90% agreed that pharmacists were lack of understanding in biosimilars. They were uncertain about efficacy and safety of biosimilars. Although, 70% of them had practice guidelines regarding biologics, they did not have guidelines for biosimilars. Male pharmacists significantly had a higher level of knowledge biological products and biosimilars than female pharmacists with OR = 1.81 (1.03-3.18). Pharmacists working at a general hospital had a higher level of knowledge than those working at a private hospital with OR = 2.96 (1.21-7.25). Pharmacists with prior information about biologics had a higher level of knowledge than those with no information with OR = 1.29 (1.64-2.60). Conclusion: The majority of Thai hospital pharmacists had basic knowledge about biologics, but was lack of information about biosimilars. They were not confident in comparing the qualification between innovator biological products and biosimilars.
Article Details
ผลการวิจัยและความคิดเห็นที่ปรากฏในบทความถือเป็นความคิดเห็นและอยู่ในความรับผิดชอบของผู้นิพนธ์ มิใช่ความเห็นหรือความรับผิดชอบของกองบรรณาธิการ หรือคณะเภสัชศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยสงขลานครินทร์ ทั้งนี้ไม่รวมความผิดพลาดอันเกิดจากการพิมพ์ บทความที่ได้รับการเผยแพร่โดยวารสารเภสัชกรรมไทยถือเป็นสิทธิ์ของวารสารฯ
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