Evaluation of knowledge, opinion and behavior of physicians working in a university hospital about biosimilar drugs

AIMS: The knowledge, thoughts, behaviors and attitudes of physicians working in departments that frequently prescribed biologic drugs, about biosimilar drugs were evaluated through a questionnaire in this study. METHODS: In a descriptive, cross-sectional study, 184 physicians participated. Participants' demographic information were assessed by descriptive statistical analysis of knowledge about biosimilar drug, opinions, attitudes and behaviors. Relation among variables were tested by chi-square test. Statistically significant p <0.05 was considered. RESULTS: Physicians of the average knowledge score on biosimilar drugs was 7.6 ± 2.5 out of 14 points; According to the academic level, the knowledge level score average of the lecturer and specialist physicians (8.3 1.6) was significantly higher than the knowledge level score average of the specialty students (7.22.7) (p=0.010), physicians who have heard the concept of biosimilar (7.9 ± 1.9) compared to those who have not heard (2.5 ± 3.9) and the knowledge score averages of the physicians who were trained in biosimilar drugs (8.7 ± 1.4) compared to those who did not (7.3 ± 2.6) were significantly higher (respectively; p=0.002, p=0.024). The mean knowledge score about the recognition of biological and biosimilar drugs was 5.4 ± 3.4: the average score of the physicians who heard the biosimilar concept (5.7 ± 3.2) was significantly higher (p = 0.001). Of the respondents, 45.2% of the physicians stated that biosimilar drugs are not as effective as biological drugs, and 35.9% thought that they aren't safe. The proportion of those who, on the pharmacist's own initiative, did not worry about replacing the biological reference drug prescribed by the doctor with a biosimilar drug was 29.1%. CONCLUSION: Physicians' general level of knowledge on biosimilar drugs and their knowledge of commercial products is low. On biosimilar drugs, It is thought that the trainings to be given during the medical school or specialty training will contribute to the increase of the knowledge of physicians and to eliminate their concerns. KEYWORDS: Biosimilar drug, survey, level of knowledge, pyhsicians