Key Findings Consumers About this chapter This chapter details the results for the consumers included in the research, namely: Patients Carers. The profile of consumers is detailed at Section 4.2. While the majority of those who completed the survey had heard of biosimilars, n=32 consumers had heard of biosimilars ‘never before’. In order to explore in detail different facets and nuances of understanding, attitudes and use of biologic and biosimilar medicines, the questionnaire covered the following, related, areas: Familiarity with biologic and biosimilars medicines; Prevalence of prescribing/dispensing biologic and biosimilar medicines; Sources of information about biosimilar medicines; Perceived benefits and barriers of biosimilar medicines; Perceived efficacy, comparability, intention to switch and associated confidence; and Understanding of the PBS. Familiarity with biologic and biosimilar medicines 6.2.1 Familiarity with biologic medicines All consumers were asked how familiar they were with biologic medicines. Less than a quarter of consumers (23%) were familiar with biologic medicines (either or while half ‘very familiar’ ‘familiar’), were (51%). Only two consumers mentioned that they had heard of them ‘somewhat familiar’ ‘never before’. Notably, carers reported higher levels of familiarity than patients (51% c.f. 33%). Figure 63: Familiarity with biologic medicines Q1. How familiar are you with biologic medicines? The figure below provides details of statistically significant sub-group differences. Figure 64: Familiarity with biologic medicines sub group differences – Consumers More likely to be familiar (so or combined) ‘very familiar’ ‘familiar’ Those from capital cities (28%) Those who have been on biological (52%) or biosimilar medicines before (49%) Consumers who were confident in taking biosimilar medicine (32%) or switching to a biosimilar medicine (28%).
Key Findings Consumers About this chapter This chapter details the results for the consumers included in the research, namely: Patients Carers. The profile of consumers is detailed at Section 4.2. While the majority of those who completed the survey had heard of biosimilars, n=32 consumers had ‘never heard of biosimilars before’. In order to explore in detail different facets and nuances of understanding, attitudes and use of biologic and biosimilar medicines, the questionnaire covered the following, related, areas: Familiarity with biologic and biosimilars medicines; Prevalence of prescribing/dispensing biologic and biosimilar medicines; Sources of information about biosimilar medicines; Perceived benefits and barriers of biosimilar medicines; Perceived efficacy, comparability, intention to switch and associated confidence; and Understanding of the PBS. Familiarity with biologic and biosimilar medicines 6.2.1 Familiarity with biologic medicines All consumers were asked how familiar they were with biologic medicines. Less than a quarter of consumers (23%) were familiar with biologic medicines (either ‘very familiar’ or ‘familiar’), while half were ‘somewhat familiar’ (51%). Only two consumers mentioned that they had ‘never heard of them before’. Notably, carers reported higher levels of familiarity than patients (51% c.f. 33%). Figure 63: Familiarity with biologic medicines Q1. How familiar are you with biologic medicines? The figure below provides details of statistically significant sub-group differences. Figure 64: Familiarity with biologic medicines – sub group differences Consumers More likely to be familiar (so ‘very familiar’ or ‘familiar’ combined) Those from capital cities (28%) Those who have been on biological (52%) or biosimilar medicines before (49%) Consumers who were confident in taking biosimilar medicine (32%) or switching to a biosimilar medicine (28%).