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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate how different types
of prescriptions using different illness labels may influence lay views about
the use of generic or brand medicines. The participants were 882
Portuguese (both sexes) recruited from the general population, who
completed a self-administered questionnaire. A vignette methodology was
used in which different prescriptions (generic versus brand) were given for
the same label (flu, hypertension, asthma and angina pectoris). The
dependent variables were for each illness label: (a) the level of agreement
with the prescription, (b) beliefs about the efficacy of a medicine and (c)
beliefs about the relief of symptoms. There were main effects of the label
and the type of prescription upon beliefs about the use of medicines. There
were interactions between illness label and type of medicines. Labels which
were perceived as more serious were associated with a lower belief in
generic medicines. These results raise important questions concerning the
need to consider illness perceptions of lay people (including perceived
severity) and its relationship with perceptions of treatment for different
conditions. Furthermore, these results may have implications for healthrelated
behaviour in general, and in particular for communication between
lay people and health professionals, prescribing behaviour, health costs and
adherence to treatment.
Description
Keywords
Lay beliefs Generic medicines Illness labels
Citation
Psychology & Health, 25, 1121-1128