en Health Health Original Research Original Research <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="font-style:italic"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">Background: </span></span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">One of the most effective measures to reduce the cost of medicines for both the healthcare system and patients is the use of generic drugs (GDs). The objective of this study was to identify the physicians&rsquo; level of knowledge and attitude toward GDs.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional survey was conducted based on a specially designed validated questionnaire of 19 items. The survey was attended by doctors of various specialties working in polyclinics in six regions in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Construct validity was assessed through principal component factor analysis, whereas reliability was assessed using Cronbach&rsquo;s alpha coefficient. Group differences were assessed using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric tests when comparing two and more than two groups, respectively.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Results:</b> The study involved 450 physicians. Only 260 (57.8%) believed that GDs are bioequivalent to the brand name drug (strongly agree and agree). About 202 (45%) of respondents doubt the effectiveness of GDs, and 144 (32%) assumed that they cause more side effects compared to similar branded drugs. Also, the majority of the respondents 320 (71.2%) felt that branded drugs should be held to higher safety standards than GDs. Approximately 338 (75%) of the physicians positively expressed that both physicians and pharmacists need standardized guidelines for the brand name substitution process. Further, 372 (82.7%) proposed that more information about the safety and efficacy of GD is needed. Also, 326 (72.4%), 314 (88.2%), and 85 (18.9%) of the respondents assumed that patients&rsquo; socio-economic factors, trust in manufacturers/suppliers, and bonuses on products respectively influence the prescribing of medicines. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Conclusion: </b>Although the study indicated that physicians in the Republic of Kazakhstan are acknowledging the use of GDs, concerns about the effectiveness and safety of GDs remain high. To enhance the use of GDs, physicians&#39; targeted educational programs on GDs&#39; bioequivalence, safety, and efficacy should be implemented.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp; Attitude, Generic Drugs, Physicians, Knowledge 433 440 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-8547-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Zandulla Nakipov zarkin48@mail.ru 200319475328460089332 200319475328460089332 No Department of Public Health and Management, NJSC Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan Dinara Kaliyeva de.kaliyeva@gmail.com 200319475328460089333 200319475328460089333 No Department of Public Health and Management, NJSC Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan Assiya Turgambayeva assiya739@gmail.com & tak1973@mail.ru 200319475328460089334 200319475328460089334 Yes Department of Public Health and Management, NJSC Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan Zakira Kerimbayeva zakira.k@mail.ru 200319475328460089335 200319475328460089335 No Department of Public Health and Management, NJSC Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan Zhalgaskali Arystanov zhalgaskali50@mail.ru 200319475328460089336 200319475328460089336 No Department of Pharmaceutical Disciplines, NJSC Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan Tanagul Arystanova tanagul@mail.ru 200319475328460089337 0009-0005-8697-6438 No Department of Pharmaceutical Disciplines, NJSC Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan Nellya Ivanchenko n.ivanchenko@kaznmu.kz 200319475328460089338 200319475328460089338 No Department of Master's and Doctoral Studies, NJSC Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan Nabil Joseph Awadalla njgirgis@yahoo.co.uk 200319475328460089339 200319475328460089339 No Department of Community Medicine, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine, Egypt