Americans more likely than others to prefer generics, study finds

RHINEBECK, N.Y. — Consumers in the United States are more likely than those in three other countries to say they prefer to receive generic drugs over branded drugs, according to a new study.

The study, by Phoenix Marketing International, included 810 consumers from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and France. Among respondents, 37% of American consumers expressed a preference for generics when they were available, compared with 22% of those in France, 12% in the United Kingdom and 21% in Canada.

Meanwhile, 29% of the French said the quality of generics was not as high as branded drugs, compared with 14% of Americans and 11% of Britons and Canadians. Seven percent of Americans said they would feel uncomfortable taking a generic drug for a serious illness, compared with 16% of French, 21% of Britons and 13% of Canadians. Americans were also most likely to say they had no concerns about taking generic drugs.

But despite concerns about generics among French consumers, generic use in France was the highest, with 73% saying they had taken a generic drug in the past two years, compared with 70% of Americans, 54% of Canadians and 36% of Britons.

Source: Phoenix Marketing International