TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors of $4 generic prescription drug discount programs use in the low-income population
AU - Omojasola, Anthony
AU - Hernandez, Mike
AU - Sansgiry, Sujit
AU - Paxton, Raheem
AU - Jones, Lovell
N1 - Funding Information:
Dr. Omojasola was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Health Disparities Research at the time of this study. Dr. Omojasola's postdoctoral fellowship was supported by the Kellogg Health Scholars Program. The Kellogg Health Scholars Program had no role in the study design, data collection, analysis or interpretation of data, and writing or submitting the manuscript.
PY - 2014/1
Y1 - 2014/1
N2 - Background: Generic drug discount programs (GDDPs) are an option to provide affordable prescription medication to low-income individuals. However, the factors that influence the use of GDDPs in low-income population are unknown. Objectives: To evaluate factors associated with utilization of generic a drug discount program in a low-income population. Methods: A survey was administered to adult participants at health centers and community-based organizations in Houston, Texas, USA (n=525). Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine the construct validity of the survey instrument and to assess distinct factors associated with GDDP utilization. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the distribution of patient socio-demographic characteristics and questionnaire responses. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compute adjusted odds ratios and to examine the strength of association with GDDP utilization after adjusting for participant socio-demographic features that were statistically significant at a priori level of P<0.05. Results: In this study, 72% of respondents were aware of the GDDP, and 61% had utilized the GDDP. Participants were 4 times likely to use a GDDP when their physician (AOR: 4.0, 95% CI: 2.6-6.4, P<0.001) or pharmacist (AOR: 4.0, 95% CI: 2.6-6.3, P<0.001) talked to them about it. Participants indicated that the most important barriers to utilization of GDDPs were lack of awareness (44%), and lack of recommendation by a physician (19%). Conclusions: Increased patient awareness and physician recommendation may increase the use of GDDPs, which may lead to improved compliance with medications, better health outcomes and reduced health care costs.
AB - Background: Generic drug discount programs (GDDPs) are an option to provide affordable prescription medication to low-income individuals. However, the factors that influence the use of GDDPs in low-income population are unknown. Objectives: To evaluate factors associated with utilization of generic a drug discount program in a low-income population. Methods: A survey was administered to adult participants at health centers and community-based organizations in Houston, Texas, USA (n=525). Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine the construct validity of the survey instrument and to assess distinct factors associated with GDDP utilization. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the distribution of patient socio-demographic characteristics and questionnaire responses. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compute adjusted odds ratios and to examine the strength of association with GDDP utilization after adjusting for participant socio-demographic features that were statistically significant at a priori level of P<0.05. Results: In this study, 72% of respondents were aware of the GDDP, and 61% had utilized the GDDP. Participants were 4 times likely to use a GDDP when their physician (AOR: 4.0, 95% CI: 2.6-6.4, P<0.001) or pharmacist (AOR: 4.0, 95% CI: 2.6-6.3, P<0.001) talked to them about it. Participants indicated that the most important barriers to utilization of GDDPs were lack of awareness (44%), and lack of recommendation by a physician (19%). Conclusions: Increased patient awareness and physician recommendation may increase the use of GDDPs, which may lead to improved compliance with medications, better health outcomes and reduced health care costs.
KW - Generic drugs
KW - Health care access
KW - Health care cost
KW - Low-income
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U2 - 10.1016/j.sapharm.2013.04.001
DO - 10.1016/j.sapharm.2013.04.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 23684716
AN - SCOPUS:84888867469
SN - 1551-7411
VL - 10
SP - 141
EP - 148
JO - Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy
JF - Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy
IS - 1
ER -