Comparison of the Influence of Demographic Groups on Patients' Satisfaction with the Quality of New Drugs

Abstract

Objective: Compared with old drugs, new drugs often have better efficacy, but they also have the disadvantages of high cost and low market recognition. The main customers for new drugs are patients. Patients' satisfaction with the quality of a new drug determines its market competitiveness. The purpose of this study was to understand the effects of gender, age, income, occupation, and education level on quality satisfaction of new drugs. METHODS: A total of 440 patients in large public hospitals in Chengdu were investigated by qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis. The questionnaire content included demographic characteristics of patients and 8 characteristics of quality of new drugs: efficacy, safety, ease of use, cost and price, taste, smell, shelf life, etc. RESULTS: The results showed that age, income and education level of patients had significant effects on quality satisfaction of new drugs (P < 0.05), while gender and occupation had no effect on quality satisfaction of new drugs (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The income level of patients with different age and educational level is different. In essence, the patient's economic level determines his consumption concept. Poor patients pay more attention to the cost performance of drugs, while wealthy patients pay more attention to the efficacy of drugs. The main markets for new drugs will be rich and young customers, who are the focus of advertising campaigns. This study can avoid the waste caused by blind publicity of enterprises.