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Medicine Use (medicine + use)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	95%

Kinds of Medicine Use

alternative medicine use

Selected Abstracts

Medicine use in older people's inpatient mental health services

JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 3 2010
J. A. BAKER phd mphil msc bnurs (hons) rmn
Accessible summary ,,Aging increases the risks associated with medicines. ,,Complex regimes of medicines are used with older people in mental health services. ,,Mental Health Nurses need to consider their skills and knowledge in dealing with these complex regimes. Abstract The aims of this audit were to establish the range and volumes of medicines used in older people's mental health settings and to explore the safety of the prescribing habits through the application of the revised Beers criteria. An audit of all patients on all selected wards (both functional and organic) for current prescriptions of all drugs routinely prescribed on the census day was undertaken on 11 wards in three Mental Health NHS Trusts in the North West of England. Data were collected on 154 patients in 11 different inpatient settings in three Mental Health Trusts. A total of 153 patients had 882 prescriptions of 196 drugs (mean 5.8 drugs). Most frequently prescribed drugs were aspirin (n= 57, 6.5%), paracetamol (n= 36, 4.1%) and quetiapine (n= 35, 4.0%). Nine of the 48 potentially inappropriate medicines in the revised Beers criteria had been prescribed, although at within appropriate limits. The audit highlights the complexity of poly-pharmacotherapy in older adults admitted to mental health services. Further works needs to establish whether nurses have the clinical knowledge and skills to ensure safe practice. There appears to be continued variation in prescribing practice. [source]

Young adolescents' use of medicine for headache: sources of supply, availability and accessibility at home,

PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 4 2008
Bjørn E. Holstein Mag.
Abstract Objective Use of medicines for headache is common among young adolescents but little is known about their sources of supply and access to medicines. The purpose was to describe sources of supply, availability and accessibility at home and to examine if supply, availability and accessibility were associated with medicine use. Methods Cross-sectional study in eight schools where all fifth and seventh grade students (11- and 13-year-olds) answered a questionnaire about socio-demographic factors, health and medicine use. Response rate: 84.0%, n,=,595. Results The reported prevalence of headache at least monthly was 45.0%, and 42.5% had used medicines for headache during the past month. 68.2% reported that medicines for headache were always available at home, and 22.2% were allowed to use these without asking for permission. Most pupils received medicine from their parents (73.1%) and physicians (25.4%). Smaller proportions had received medicine from school nurses, teachers, friends and others; 11.6% mentioned at least three sources of supply. Pupils with frequent episodes of headache reported more sources of supply and higher availability and accessibility at home. OR for medicine use among children who mentioned three or more sources of supply was 4.53 (95% CI 2.63,7.83) in a multivariate model controlled for sex, age and prevalence of headache. Use of medicine was also associated with availability at home (OR,=,1.51, 1.01,2.27) and accessibility (OR,=,2.49, 1.57,3.93). Conclusion Medicine use for headache among children and young adolescents is common and control of access may be the key issue for safe medicine use. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Use of Alternative Therapies by Patients Undergoing Surgery for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 6 2002
Scott M. Dinehart MD
background. The use of alternative therapies is becoming increasingly common and may result in unwanted side effects and drug interactions. objective. To determine the frequency of alternative medicine use by patients undergoing Mohs surgery for nonmelanoma skin cancer. methods. A written survey concerning use of alternative therapies was given to patients undergoing Mohs surgery for nonmelanoma skin cancer. A follow-up telephone survey was used to clarify positive responses. results. Thirty-six of 192 (18.8%) patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer reported using some type of alternative therapy. Almost all patients were using these therapies for conditions unrelated to their nonmelanoma skin cancer. Herbs and botanicals were the most common type of alternative therapy utilized. conclusion. Physicians performing Mohs surgery should be aware that a significant number of their patients use alternative therapies. Since most patients do not readily volunteer information about alternative medicine usage, specific steps should be taken to obtain this information. [source]

Complementary and alternative medicine use in families of children with cerebral palsy

DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 6 2003
Edward A Hurvitz MD
In order to assess patterns of usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in families of children with cerebral palsy (CP), 213 families with a child (0 to 18 years) with CP were recruited at the university medical center in Ann Arbor, MI, USA as part of a descriptive survey. Two hundred and thirty-five surveys were distributed. Mean age of the child was 8 years 6 months (SD 4y: 9mo) and 56% of the sample was male with 35% full-time independent ambulators, while the rest used an assistive device or a wheelchair. Fifty-four percent were in special education classrooms. Families were given a survey on functional status of the child with CP, CAM usage of the child and the parent, factors influencing the decision to use CAM, demographics, and clinical information. Of the families, 56%, used one or more CAM techniques. Massage therapy (25%) and aquatherapy (25%) were the most common. Children of families that used CAM were significantly younger (7y: 9mo, SD 4y: 7mo) than non-users (9y: 6mo, SD 4y: 6mo: t -test p < 0.01 two-tailed). Children with quadriplegic CP, with spasticity, and those who could not walk independently were more commonly exposed to CAM (Pearson's X2 [PX2] p=0.01 two-tailed; for mobility, odds ratio [OR] of 2.5 with regression). Mothers with a college degree had a greater tendency to use CAM for their child than those without (PX2p=0.01 two-tailed). Fathers of children who used CAM were older than fathers of those who did not (37y: 9mo versus 33y: 2mo, p=0.04 two-tailed). There was no significant difference between groups for mother's age, father's education, income, or for population of home town. Parents who used CAM for themselves were more likely to try CAM for their child (70% versus 47%, OR 2.1), and were much more likely to be pleased with the outcome (71% versus 42%, OR 3.5). Child's age (younger), lack of independent mobility, and parental use of CAM were the most significant predictive factors identified via logistic regression. [source]

Demand for traditional medicine in Taiwan: a mixed Gaussian,Poisson model approach

HEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2001
Steven T. Yen
Abstract Hurdle count models are used to examine the participation and consumption decisions in Chinese medicine use. Motivated by a household production model, a second censoring mechanism is introduced into existing single-hurdle models, and the resulting specification accommodates conscientious abstainers, as well as economic non-consumers, and admits excessive zeros in the sample. In contrast to previous studies that found few predictors, empirical results based on a Taiwanese national sample suggest that Western medicine is a gross substitute to Chinese medicine, and both time price and money price play more important roles than income. Insurance, lifestyle and demographics also determine the use of Chinese medicine. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Estimation of psycholeptic and psychoanaleptic medicine use in an adult general population sample using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 4 2008
U. John
Abstract Little is known about psycholeptic and psychoanaleptic medicine (PM) use in the general population. This study presents prevalence data about PM use. The sample included 4310 individuals aged 20,79 from a general population health examination in a northern German area (participation proportion: 68.8%; Study of Health in Pomerania, SHIP). Medicines taken during the past seven days were assessed from the medicine packages or self-reports and classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification developed by the World Health Organization. In total, 6.3% of the sample reported PM intake, 8.7% of the women and 4.7% of the men. During the past 12 months prior to the health examination, 49.2% of the individuals with PM use consulted a general practitioner but not a neurologist or a psychiatrist. Among the study participants with PM use, 88.8% had one or more mental disorders during lifetime according to a screening questionnaire. It is concluded that considerable proportions of individuals with current PM use exist although lower than may be expected on the basis of the number of individuals with mental disorder in the general population. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Non-prescription medicine use by outpatients of a hospital in north-central Trinidad living with hypertension, and the potential clinical risks

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 5 2008
Miss Rian Extavour Assistant Lecturer, principal investigator
Objective To describe the reported use of non-prescription medicines (NPMs) and the reported frequency of use by outpatients living with hypertension; to identify potential drug-drug and drug-disease interactions between reported NPMs and either antihypertensives prescribed or hypertension. Setting Adult outpatient clinics of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex Adult Hospital in Trinidad. Method Outpatients were interviewed about their use of NPMs using a structured instrument. Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test was used to test for associations between NPM use and selected variables: age group, gender, education level, number of prescribed medicines, use of prescribed medicines and the presence of comorbidities. Combinations of NPMs and antihypertensive drugs or hypertension itself that may lead to undesirable interactions were identified. Key findings One hundred and fifty-five clients were interviewed (mean age 61 years; 46% men; 56% of East Indian descent). Of these, 82% were living with a cardiac condition and 60% with diabetes mellitus. In addition, 92% reported using NPMs to treat minor illnesses. Analgesic use was reported by 81%. Some 66% reported using paracetamol, 54% reported antitussives, 48% antacids, 47% antihistamines and 39% said they used sympathomimetic drugs. The majority (98%) of NPMs were used only when needed. Sixty per cent had at least one combination a with risk of interaction with NPMs and hypertension or antihypertensive medicines: 16% had risk of interactions between enalapril (or captopril) and antacids, 13% between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), 12% between beta-blockers and NSAIDs and 12% between thiazide diuretics and NSAIDs. Thirty-nine per cent had a drug-disease interaction risk due to sympathomimetic drugs and 26% had one due to NSAID use. Conclusion Based on self-reports, outpatients living with hypertension in north-central Trinidad use NPMs when needed to treat minor illnesses, mainly paracetamol for pain. Non-prescription-antihypertensive interactions may arise due to ACE inhibitor/antacid combinations and NPM-hypertension interactions may result from use of sympathomimetics. Interactions may also arise as a result of the use of NPMs containing NSAIDs and sodium. [source]

Extemporaneous product use in paediatric patients: a systematic review

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 1 2008
Ms Jennifer A Giam pharmacist, postgraduate student
Objective To identify the relative extent of extemporaneous product use reported in the paediatric population and the implications for pharmacy practice. Method A systematic literature review was undertaken to identify the prevalence of extemporaneous product use in paediatric patients including those studies examining both ,off-label' and unlicensed medicine use from which extemporaneous products were separately identified and compared to licensed drug use. Key findings Twenty studies were identified and evaluated in which extemporaneous products prepared by a pharmacy or licensed manufacturer could be identified. Although prescribing of unlicensed drugs and licensed drugs used ,off-label' occurs more frequently in younger children and for more serious conditions, the use of extemporaneous products is consistent across all age groups and therapeutic areas. Studies using pharmacy dispensing records identified details of extemporaneous products more accurately than studies using prescribing records. Despite efforts to improve the availability of suitable licensed medicine products for children, extemporaneously prepared products are still needed to ensure that optimal drug therapy is available to children in accurate and effective doses and dosage forms. Conclusions Paediatric patients have a continuing need for extemporaneously prepared medicines when suitable dose forms are unavailable from manufacturers. Pharmacists require access to stability, compatibility and formulation information, as well as appropriate training to ensure patients are supplied with high-quality, safe and effective preparations. [source]

Use of over-the-counter medicines in children

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 4 2003
John McIntyre senior lecturer in child health
ABSTRACT Objective To assess the reasons for over-the-counter (OTC) medicine use in children and the sociodemographic factors influencing this choice of self-care rather than GP consultation. Method Questionnaires were sent to the home address of a randomly generated list of children under 12 years of age from three GP practices in the East Midlands selected to represent bottom, middle and top tertiles of deprivation on the basis of the Jarman score. Analysis using chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests was used to identify associated factors (number of carers in the home, number of children, deprivation score, parent/carer's age, age and number of children in the house) of the responses. Setting Primary care setting in the East Midlands region of England. Key findings From 424 completed questionnaires returned (response rate 61%), 413 parents/carers had purchased OTC medicines. Fifty-one different products had been purchased, with analgesic/antipyretic and cough/cold remedies the most frequently bought. The most commonly reported reasons for parent/carer initiated medication were to avoid troubling the GP with minor childhood ailments (79% of respondents) and to have medicines available in case of future need (74%). Cost was a barrier to buying OTC medicines for the more deprived. Advice-seeking behaviour was associated with the symptom, the number of children, affluence and the age of the child. Conclusion Parent/carer initiated use of OTC medication is widespread, particularly for analgesic/antipyretic and cough/cold remedies. Differences in advice-seeking behaviour are associated with the presenting symptom and a variety of sociodemographic factors. [source]

Complementary and alternative medicine use in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome

MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 13 2009
Katie Kompoliti MD
Abstract The aim of this study was to describe the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with Tourette syndrome (TS) and explore associations with CAM use. In recent years CAM use has increased, but rates of CAM use in TS patients are not reported. Consecutive TS patients or their parent(s), seen in an academic movement disorder center, completed a questionnaire regarding their use of CAM. One hundred TS patients or parents completed the questionnaire, mean age 21.5 ± 13.5, 76 males, 87 Caucasians. Sixty four patients had used at least one CAM modality. CAM treatments used were prayer (28), vitamins (21), massage (19), dietary supplements (15), chiropractic manipulations (12), meditation (10), diet alterations (nine), yoga (nine), acupuncture (eight), hypnosis (seven), homeopathy (six), and EEG biofeedback (six). Fifty six percent of patients using CAM reported some improvement. Users paid out of pocket for 47% of treatments pursued, and 19% of these payers received partial reimbursement by third party payer. Users and non-users did not differ in age, gender, race, income, educational level, general health, tic severity, medication use for TS, current satisfaction from medications or experience of side effects from medications. CAM use was associated with the presence of affective disorder (P = 0.004), but not with either ADHD or OCD. Among CAM users, 80% initiated CAM without informing their doctor. CAM is commonly used in children and adults with TS, and often without the neurologist's knowledge. Physicians should inquire about CAM to understand the spectrum of interventions that patients with TS use. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society [source]

Do Off-Label Drug Practices Argue Against FDA Efficacy Requirements?

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY, Issue 5 2008
A Critical Analysis of Physicians' Argumentation for Initial Efficacy Requirements
The amended Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act requires efficacy certification for a drug's initial uses ("on-label"), but does not require certification before physicians may prescribe the drug for subsequent uses ("off-label"). Does it make sense to require FDA efficacy certification for new drugs but not for new uses of old drugs? Using a sequential online survey, we carried on a "virtual conversation" with some 500 physicians. The survey asked whether efficacy requirements should be imposed on off-label uses; almost all physicians said no. It asked whether the efficacy requirements for initial uses should be dropped, and most physicians said no. We then asked respondents whether opposing efficacy requirements in one case but not the other involved an inconsistency. In response, we received hundreds of written commentaries. We organize and discuss these commentaries with an eye to understanding how the medical market certifies off-label drug uses and how this compares to FDA certification. Does off-label medicine use suggest that efficacy requirements should be placed on new uses of old drugs? Does it suggest that efficacy requirements on new drugs should be lifted? We explore these questions, and ask whether the response of many of the doctors exhibits the familiar behavior bias toward the status quo. [source]

Complementary and alternative medicine use among long-term lymphoma survivors: A pilot study,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 12 2009
Thomas M. Habermann
No published survey has specifically addressed the beliefs, knowledge, and usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in long-term (5,20 years) lymphoma survivors alone. In this pilot project, 95 subjects were randomly selected from a population of 2,475 long-term lymphoma survivors and mailed a questionnaire. The median time from lymphoma diagnosis to completion of the questionnaire was 11 years (range 6,20). Overall, 68% (95% CI: 54,80%) of the long-term lymphoma survivors reported that they have used CAM, a rate higher than the estimated usage rate reported for the general population The most commonly used modalities were chiropractic (39%, 95% CI: 27,53%) and massage therapy (21%, 95% CI: 12,34%). Less than 10% used meditation (5%, 95% CI: 1,15%) and relaxation (7%, 95% CI: 2,17%). In terms of common herbal usage, 5% (95% CI: 1,15%) had used St. John's Wort and 7% (95% CI: 2,17%) had used shark cartilage. Although none of the patients reported that CAM usage was directed specifically towards treating their lymphoma, 4% (95% CI: 0,12%) of patients reported that CAM could cure cancer, and 14% (95% CI: 6,26%) reported that CAM could increase their feeling of control over their health. This pilot study suggests that long-term lymphoma survivors appear to use CAM at a rate higher than the general population. The use of potential agents of risk by the survivors and the lack of access to potentially beneficial modalities highlights the need for further study of CAM in this population. Am. J. Hematol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Young adolescents' use of medicine for headache: sources of supply, availability and accessibility at home,

Self-rated health as predictor of medicine use in adolescence,

PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 2 2008
Bjørn E. Holstein Mag Scient Soc
Abstract Purpose To examine the association between self-rated health (SRH) and medicine use for four common complaints: headache, stomach-ache, difficulties in getting to sleep and nervousness, in a nationally representative sample of adolescents. Methods The study population comprised of all students in the fifth, seventh and ninth grade (mean ages 11.6, 13.6 and 15.6 years) in a random sample of schools in Denmark 2002, participation rate 90.6%, n,=,4.824. The students reported health problems, medicine use, social and psychosocial conditions in an anonymous and standardized questionnaire. The outcome measure was self-reported medicine use during the past month and the determinant was SRH measured by one item. Results There was an association between poor/fair SRH and medicine use for headache and stomach-ache. The associations remained statistically significant even after adjustment for frequency of the complaint for which the medicine was used: OR (95%CI) for medicine use for headache was 1.54 (1.10,2.14) among boys with poor/fair SRH and 1.50 (1.12,2.03) among girls with poor/fair SRH. A similar association was found between poor SRH and medicine use for stomach-ache for both boys (OR,=,3.41 (2.09,5.55)) and girls (OR,=,1.90 (1.36,2.67). Further, there was an association between poor/fair SRH and medicine use for difficulties in getting to sleep among girls, OR,=,2.66 (1.26,5.63) but not among boys. There was no association between SRH and medicine use for nervousness. Conclusion Poor/fair SRH is associated with medicine use for aches among Danish adolescents. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Complementary medicine use by Australian women with gynaecological cancer

PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
Milica Markovic
Abstract Aims and objectives: Social and cultural factors are identified that impact on complementary therapy use among Australia-born and immigrant women diagnosed with gynaecological cancer. Methods: A qualitative study design including in-depth interviews with women diagnosed with gynaecological cancer (N=53) and participant observation was conducted. Results: Approximately one-third of women utilized complementary and alternative medicine, with this being determined by current health concerns and health beliefs related to the efficacy of different modalities. Four types of complementary therapy users emerged: consequential, therapeutic, informed and exploratory. Conclusion: There was a relatively low uptake of complementary treatments. Choice was influenced by women's socio-demographic background, clinical and personal history, lack of personal experiences of gynaecological cancer among study participants' kin and friends, and lack of popular alternative literature on such cancer. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Vinorelbine, doxorubicin, and prednisone in androgen-independent prostate cancer

CANCER, Issue 5 2006
Lester S. Borden Jr. MD
Abstract BACKGROUND. Ultimately, patients with metastatic prostate cancer progress on androgen ablation therapy. The investigation of new chemotherapeutic regimens for the treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC) is essential. The authors conducted a Phase II trial with vinorelbine, doxorubicin, and daily prednisone (NAP) to investigate the antitumor activity and palliative response of this regimen in patients with AIPC. METHODS. Forty-six patients entered this Phase II combination chemotherapy trial. Patients were treated with both vinorelbine and doxorubicin at doses of 20 mg/m2 on Days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days and prednisone 5 mg twice daily. Endpoints included prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response and palliation, as measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P) instrument, the Brief Pain Inventory Scale, and a narcotic analgesic log. RESULTS. The median follow-up for all 46 patients was 13.4 months. Fifty-two percent of patients had impaired performance status at baseline. One responding patient remained on NAP and was progression-free at 11.5 months. Thirty-nine patients progressed, 3 patients died prior to response assessment, and 3 patients refused therapy. The median overall survival was 57 weeks (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 36,76 weeks), and the median time to disease progression was 17 weeks (range, 11,24 weeks). The PSA response among the 36 patients who completed 3 cycles of NAP was 42% (95% CI, 26,59%). There was a statistically significant improvement in quality of life measured both by the FACT-General instrument (P = .03) and the FACT-P instrument (P = .0006) over the 3 months compared with baseline measurements. Pain medicine use also improved: The median morphine equivalents among patients who were taking pain medications at the time of study enrollment showed a substantial decline after 1 cycle of treatment that was maintained. Pain (as assessed by the Brief Pain Inventory) improved compared with baseline pain at the 2nd-month assessment (worst pain, P = .08; least pain, P = .02; and average pain, P = .003). Overall, the regimen was tolerated well. The most common side effects were mild fatigue and gastrointestinal complaints (all of which were Grade 1 or 2 [according to Version 2.0 of the Expanded Common Toxicity Criteria]). Seventeen patients (37%) experienced Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. Five patients (11%) developed a cardiac ejection fraction of <50% during treatment and had doxorubicin discontinued. No patients developed clinical congestive heart failure. CONCLUSIONS. The NAP combination produced substantive palliation and a moderate response rate in men with AIPC. Cancer 2006. © American Cancer Society. [source]

The characteristics of complementary and alternative medicine use by parents of asthmatic children in Southern Israel

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 11 2007
Lilach Singer
Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the rate and describe the characteristics of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by children with asthma in a paediatric primary care clinic in southern Israel. Method: A cross-sectional study including 252 asthmatic children aged 2,12-years was conducted. Socio-demographic data and asthma history were collected using a telephone questionnaire. Computerized medical records were used to complete the data. Results: Sixteen percent (95% CI 11.5,20.5) of the asthmatic children participating in this study used CAM; most popular were homeopathy (36.6%) and reflexology (14.6%). According to multivariate model, CAM use was more prevalent in families in which fathers had professional training (OR = 4.9, 95% CI 1.82,13.02, p = 0.002), mothers were employed (OR = 4.1, 95% CI 1.018,16.1, p = 0.047), and origin of maternal grandfathers was European (OR = 4.7, 95% CI 1.86,11.8, p = 0.001). Families who used CAM, also more frequently sought rabbinical advice (OR = 11.9, 95% CI 2.94,47.7, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of CAM use found in this study is lower than seen in other Western countries. The ,average family' using CAM to treat its asthmatic child includes an educated father, an employed mother and maternal grandfather from Europe, and would more often seek rabbi's advice. [source]

Consumers' views on generic medicines: A review of the literature

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 2 2009
Mohamed A. A. Hassali
Abstract Objectives To review the literature on consumers' knowledge, attitudes and opinions of the use of generic medicines. Method A narrative review of studies conducted from 1970 to 2008 on consumers' perceptions and views towards generic medicines was performed. An extensive literature search was undertaken using indexing services available at the authors' institution library. The following keywords were used for the search: brand, generic, multisource, medications, medicines, drugs, pharmaceuticals and consumers, customers, and patients. Electronic databases searched were Medline, Inside Web, ISI Web of Knowledge, Science Direct, Springer Link, JSTOR, Proquest, Ebsco Host and Google Scholar. These electronic databases were searched for full text papers published in English from 1970 to October 2008. Key findings Twenty studies were identified. Eleven were from the USA, four were from Europe, two were from Canada and one each was from Australia, Brazil and Malaysia. In general, consumers showed mixed reactions towards the use of generic medicines. This was evident from the divergence of views observed by country development level, consumers' socioeconomic characteristics, drug product characteristics, pharmaceutical reimbursement system, policy environment, contact with health care professionals, past experience with medications, and knowledge of the seriousness of a medical condition. Conclusions Patient confidence and knowledge pertaining to generic medicines use have increased over the past four decades, especially in developed countries. Mass educational efforts, financial incentives, and greater communication among patients and health care professionals were seen as major drivers to the uptake of generic medicines among consumers. [source]