Factors that Influence Prescribing Decisions among Turkish Physicians

Abstract

Appropriate prescribing implies the maximizing of effectiveness and the minimizing of risks and costs, while respecting patients' choices. Physicians' experiences in medical school and residency are formative in establishing patterns of prescribing. Today, pharmaceutical representatives also exert influence in the drug selection process among practicing physicians. Although physicians often state that peer-reviewed publications of clinical trials are their main source of information about drugs, the research literature has shown that this is actually one of the least important sources. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that influence prescribing decisions among physicians in Turkey. This study is important because the factors that influence physicians' prescribing behaviors are difficult to quantify and have rarely been acknowledged here. For the purpose of the study, 156 physicians in a Ministry of Health Hospital in Ankara were surveyed. The majority of the participants reported that pharmaceutical representatives were their main source of information about new drugs on the market. Regarding peer influence on drug selection, 75% of the physicians reported being affected by department heads and colleagues in the same specialty. As for monotherapy and combined therapy, 68% of participants reported using both methods when prescribing drugs to patients. Generic drug issues were also important, with 74% of the participants agreeing that for drugs having the same active ingredients, local versus foreign distinctions should be made to protect national interests, and 88% completely agreeing/agreeing that the patient's economic level and social security must be considered in drug selection. In addition, important concerns were gathered regarding ethical issues and patient drug use. At the end of study, policy suggestions are provided for both physicians and health policy makers regarding the factors that influence patterns of drug prescribing.

Key words: :

• Physicians' prescribing behaviors
• Turkish physicians