Generics and fixed-dose combinations in cardiology: satisfaction analysis of pharmacists and cardiologists

The purpose of the study was to investigate doctors' and pharmacists' satisfaction with generic medicines and fixed-dose combinations in cardiology by applying the principles of the tetra-class analysis. The questionnaire was distributed among physicians and pharmacists to evaluate their satisfaction with important medicines' characteristics by classifying them in tetra-class groups. The principles of correspondence analysis were used as statistical methodology. The opinion of both cardiologists and pharmacists coincided in 8 out of the 28 elements of all generic medicines' and fixed-dose combinations' characteristics of satisfaction which were included in the questionnaire. The positive evaluation was more distinctive for doctors, whereas pharmacists were found to be slightly more negatively predisposed, which means that they have a higher risk of being dissatisfied. The tetra-class analysis was found to be suitable for the evaluation of satisfaction with generic medicines and fixed-dose combinations in cardiology. It allowed classification of their characteristics, based on their importance for pharmacists and physicians. The results showed that the opinions of doctors and pharmacists differed. Doctors were more satisfied with generic medicines, whereas the satisfaction with fixed-dose combinations was high in both groups of health care specialists.