Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! On (X network) By
Factors Influencing Prescribing Decisions of Physicians: A Review Publisher Pubmed



Davari M1, 2 ; Khorasani E1, 2, 3 ; Tigabu BM1, 2, 4, 5
Authors
Show Affiliations
Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmaceutical Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Pharmaceutical Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
  3. 3. Faculty of Pharmacy, Students' Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Tehran University of Medical Sciences, International Campus, Iran
  5. 5. Haramaya University, School of Pharmacy, Ethiopia

Source: Ethiopian journal of health sciences Published:2018


Abstract

Background: The pharmaceutical bill is increasing at an alarming rate. The physician practice variation has a pronounced effect on healthcare spending. A number of factors can influence the prescribing behavior of physicians. The aim of this review was to identify the factors affecting the prescribing decision of physicians. Methods: Electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE CENTRAL, Cochrane Libraries and Google scholar were searched systematically for literatures on factors influencing prescribing decisions of physicians from 2000 to 2016. There was no restriction on the study designs. Results: Thirty-three studies met the inclusion criteria from 1122 search results. A total of 33 factors were identified. The most frequent factors were patients' clinical condition, pharmaceutical industries, physician attributes, patient preference and cost of medicine. Conclusion: Physicians' personal attributes, cost of the medicine and pharmaceutical industries' marketing and promotion strategies were mostly mentioned to influence prescribing decision. The identified factors showed that prescribing is not only geared for patient benefit, but also towards personal interest. The use of valid and reliable practice guidelines could reduce the negative impact of wide ranges of factors and promote the rational prescribing effectively.