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Perceptions and utilization of generic medicines in Guatemala: a mixed-methods study with physicians and pharmacy staff

Overview of attention for article published in BMC Health Services Research, January 2017
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About this Attention Score

  • In the top 25% of all research outputs scored by Altmetric
  • High Attention Score compared to outputs of the same age (85th percentile)
  • High Attention Score compared to outputs of the same age and source (85th percentile)

Mentioned by

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1 news outlet
twitter
2 X users
facebook
1 Facebook page

Citations

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16 Dimensions

Readers on

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137 Mendeley
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Title
Perceptions and utilization of generic medicines in Guatemala: a mixed-methods study with physicians and pharmacy staff
Published in
BMC Health Services Research, January 2017
DOI 10.1186/s12913-017-1991-z
Pubmed ID
Authors

David Flood, Irène Mathieu, Anita Chary, Pablo García, Peter Rohloff

Abstract

Access to low-cost essential generic medicines is a critical health policy goal in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs). Guatemala is an LMIC where there is both limited availability and affordability of these medications. However, attitudes of physicians and pharmacy staff regarding low-cost generics, especially generics for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), have not been fully explored in Guatemala. Semi-structured interviews with 30 pharmacy staff and 12 physicians in several highland towns in Guatemala were conducted. Interview questions related to perceptions of low-cost generic medicines, prescription and dispensing practices of generics in the treatment of two NCDs, diabetes and hypertension, and opinions about the roles of pharmacy staff and physicians in selecting medicines for patients. Pharmacy staff were recruited from a random sample of pharmacies and physicians were recruited from a convenience sample. Interview data were analyzed using a thematic approach for qualitative data as well as basic quantitative statistics. Pharmacy staff and physicians expressed doubt as to the safety and efficacy of low-cost generic medicines in Guatemala. The low cost of generic medicines was often perceived as proof of their inferior quality. In the case of diabetes and hypertension, the decision to utilize a generic medicine was based on multiple factors including the patient's financial situation, consumer preference, and, to a large extent, physician recommendations. Interventions to improve generic medication utilization in Guatemala must address the negative perceptions of physicians and pharmacy staff toward low-cost generics. Strengthening state capacity and transparency in the regulation and monitoring of the drug supply is a key goal of access-to-medicines advocacy in Guatemala.

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X Demographics

The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 2 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 137 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Unknown 137 100%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Master 23 17%
Student > Ph. D. Student 14 10%
Student > Bachelor 14 10%
Researcher 13 9%
Other 7 5%
Other 25 18%
Unknown 41 30%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Medicine and Dentistry 25 18%
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science 21 15%
Nursing and Health Professions 11 8%
Social Sciences 11 8%
Economics, Econometrics and Finance 6 4%
Other 21 15%
Unknown 42 31%
Attention Score in Context

Attention Score in Context

This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 11. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 20 February 2017.
All research outputs
#3,104,662
of 24,723,421 outputs
Outputs from BMC Health Services Research
#1,369
of 8,356 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#60,692
of 431,515 outputs
Outputs of similar age from BMC Health Services Research
#20
of 133 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 24,723,421 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done well and is in the 87th percentile: it's in the top 25% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 8,356 research outputs from this source. They typically receive more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 8.2. This one has done well, scoring higher than 83% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 431,515 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has done well, scoring higher than 85% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 133 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done well, scoring higher than 85% of its contemporaries.