Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41663722›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of clinical pharmacology2026

The use of generic versus brand names in (clinical) pharmacology education across Europe: a cross-sectional survey.

Veronika Slezáková, Jitka Rychlíčková, Yoann Cazaubon, Erik M Donker, Ellen van Leeuwen, Robert Likic, Dana Mazánková, Joost D Piët, Fabrizio De Ponti, Walter Raasch and 5 more

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In one paragraph

Article in European journal of clinical pharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Veronika SlezákováDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and Drug Information Centre, Institutional Pharmacy, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine IKEM, Prague, Czech Republic.
Jitka RychlíčkováDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic. rychlickova@med.muni.cz.
Yoann CazaubonDepartment of Pharmacology, Montpellier University Hospital, 34090, Montpellier, France.
Erik M DonkerDepartment of Internal Medicine, Unit Pharmacotherapy, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
Ellen van LeeuwenDepartment of Fundamental and Applied Medical Sciences, Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
Robert LikicUnit of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb and University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 12 Kišpatićeva St, Zagreb, 10 000, Croatia.
Dana MazánkováDepartment of Applied Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
Joost D PiëtDepartment of Internal Medicine, Unit Pharmacotherapy, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
Fabrizio De PontiDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Pharmacology Unit, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, Bologna, 40126, Italy.
Walter RaaschInstitute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Floor van RosseErasmus MC, Department of Hospital Pharmacy, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Emilio J SanzSchool of Health Science, Universidad de La Laguna and Hospital Universitario de Canarias (SCS), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Calle Padre Herrera, S/N, La Laguna Tenerife, 38200, Spain.
Markus SchwaningerInstitute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Michiel A van AgtmaelDepartment of Internal Medicine, Unit Pharmacotherapy, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
Jelle TichelaarDepartment of Internal Medicine, Unit Pharmacotherapy, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeIn pharmacology and clinical pharmacology (P&CP) teaching, using generic names of medicines contributes to global comprehensibility. However, brand names are often used in routine clinical practice, which may pose a challenge in the educational setting. This study aimed to explore P&CP teachers’ use of and attitudes towards generic and brand names in undergraduate education, as well as national prescription regulations.

methodsA survey was conducted with P&CP teachers from 38 European countries. An electronic questionnaire was used to collect data on the participants’ profiles, the nomenclature used and preferred in undergraduate education, and prescribing practices. The latter were then verified with national regulatory authorities.

resultsSixty-one teachers from 23 countries participated in the study, the majority being physicians (n = 47). In total, 13 (21%) teachers use only generic names in their teaching, while 46 (75%) use both generic and brand names. Thirty-four (56%) teachers preferred listing brand names in case-based teaching, as this reflects real life. Conversely, 37 (61%) teachers stated that students should not be exposed to brand names before graduation. Generic prescribing is either allowed or mandatory in all participating countries except two, where brand-name prescribing is mandatory.

conclusionThis study shows that generic names must remain fundamental in P&CP education, but brand names also play a role, especially in case-based education, reflecting real-life practice. Potential implications of generic and brand prescribing for internationalisation in education could be worth further attention.

Indexed as

Drugs, GenericPharmacology, ClinicalTerminology as TopicAdultCross-Sectional StudiesDrug PrescriptionsEuropeFemaleHumansMaleSurveys and QuestionnairesDrugs, GenericBrand namesClinical pharmacologyEducationGeneric namesPharmacology

Identifiers

PMID41663722
PMCPMC12886207

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.