Exploring the association between pharmacy curricular tracks and students’ attitudes toward generic medicines: insights from a comparative study in Egypt

Background Use of generic medicines enhances drug affordability and accessibility. The aim if this study was to assess the association between pharmacy educational programs and final-year pharmacy students’ perceptions and confidence in generic medicines. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted in July 2025 among 248 fifth-year pharmacy students enrolled in two educational programs at Badr University in Cairo (BUC): the Pharm D Clinical Pharmacy program and the Pharm D program. The survey assessed knowledge of generic equivalency and beliefs regarding the quality, safety, and effectiveness of generic medicines compared to those of brand medications. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and confidence intervals were used for data analysis, with a significance level set at p < 0.050. Results Awareness of generic drug therapeutic equivalence was significantly higher in the Pharm D program than in the Pharm D clinical program (93.4% vs. 70.3%; p = 0.010; 95% CI: 0.02–0.10; Cramér’s V = 0.35). However, a notable proportion in both groups reported limited education regarding detailed bioequivalence issues. A substantial proportion of students in both programs reported the need for enhanced education about safety and efficacy of generics, especially in the clinical program (89.3% vs. 68.9%, p = 0.010; 95% CI: 0.02–0.10; Cramér’s V = 0.33). Conclusion We identified significant differences in knowledge and attitudes regarding generic drugs between the two pharmacy programs. These differences are likely associated with variations in curriculum structure and content. Although general knowledge appears adequate, the Pharm D Clinical Pharmacy program may benefit from more targeted educational tracks about bioequivalence, quality assurance, and pharmacoeconomics that may better prepare future pharmacists to confidently recommend generic medications. Further multicenter studies are recommended to validate these findings.