Factors influencing prescribing behaviour of physicians in Greece and Cyprus: results from a questionnaire based survey
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Over the past few decades, drug and overall healthcare expenditure have risen rapidly in most countries. The present study investigates the attitudes and the factors which influence physician prescribing decisions and practice in Gre...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2009-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/9/150 |
| _version_ | 1828214289753702400 |
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| author | Fragoulakis Vasilis Maniadakis Nikos Pavlakis Andreas Tsiantou Vasiliki Theodorou Mamas Pavi Elpida Kyriopoulos John |
| author_facet | Fragoulakis Vasilis Maniadakis Nikos Pavlakis Andreas Tsiantou Vasiliki Theodorou Mamas Pavi Elpida Kyriopoulos John |
| author_sort | Fragoulakis Vasilis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Over the past few decades, drug and overall healthcare expenditure have risen rapidly in most countries. The present study investigates the attitudes and the factors which influence physician prescribing decisions and practice in Greece and Cyprus.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A postal questionnaire was developed by researchers at the Department of Health Economics at the National School of Public Health in Greece, specifically for the purposes of the study. This was then administered to a sample of 1,463 physicians in Greece and 240 physicians in Cyprus, stratified by sex, specialty and geographic region.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The response rate was 82.3% in Greece and 80.4% in Cyprus. There were similarities but also many differences between the countries. Clinical effectiveness is the most important factor considered in drug prescription choice in both countries. Greek physicians were significantly more likely to take additional criteria under consideration, such as the drug form and recommended daily dose and the individual patient preferences. The list of main sources of information for physicians includes: peer-reviewed medical journals, medical textbooks, proceedings of conferences and pharmaceutical sales representatives. Only half of prescribers considered the cost carried by their patients. The majority of doctors in both countries agreed that the effectiveness, safety and efficacy of generic drugs may not be excellent but it is acceptable. However, only Cypriot physicians actually prescribe them. Physicians believe that new drugs are not always better and their higher prices are not necessarily justified. Finally, doctors get information regarding adverse drug reactions primarily from the National Organisation for Medicines. However, it is notable that the majority of them do not inform the authorities on such reactions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study highlights the attitudes and the factors influencing physician behaviour in the two countries and may be used for developing policies to improve their choices and hence to increase clinical and economic effectiveness and efficiency.</p> |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-75f56aa8a8a3432a83d55fe7804eb3b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T15:02:12Z |
| publishDate | 2009-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-75f56aa8a8a3432a83d55fe7804eb3b02022-12-22T03:28:02ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632009-08-019115010.1186/1472-6963-9-150Factors influencing prescribing behaviour of physicians in Greece and Cyprus: results from a questionnaire based surveyFragoulakis VasilisManiadakis NikosPavlakis AndreasTsiantou VasilikiTheodorou MamasPavi ElpidaKyriopoulos John<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Over the past few decades, drug and overall healthcare expenditure have risen rapidly in most countries. The present study investigates the attitudes and the factors which influence physician prescribing decisions and practice in Greece and Cyprus.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A postal questionnaire was developed by researchers at the Department of Health Economics at the National School of Public Health in Greece, specifically for the purposes of the study. This was then administered to a sample of 1,463 physicians in Greece and 240 physicians in Cyprus, stratified by sex, specialty and geographic region.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The response rate was 82.3% in Greece and 80.4% in Cyprus. There were similarities but also many differences between the countries. Clinical effectiveness is the most important factor considered in drug prescription choice in both countries. Greek physicians were significantly more likely to take additional criteria under consideration, such as the drug form and recommended daily dose and the individual patient preferences. The list of main sources of information for physicians includes: peer-reviewed medical journals, medical textbooks, proceedings of conferences and pharmaceutical sales representatives. Only half of prescribers considered the cost carried by their patients. The majority of doctors in both countries agreed that the effectiveness, safety and efficacy of generic drugs may not be excellent but it is acceptable. However, only Cypriot physicians actually prescribe them. Physicians believe that new drugs are not always better and their higher prices are not necessarily justified. Finally, doctors get information regarding adverse drug reactions primarily from the National Organisation for Medicines. However, it is notable that the majority of them do not inform the authorities on such reactions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study highlights the attitudes and the factors influencing physician behaviour in the two countries and may be used for developing policies to improve their choices and hence to increase clinical and economic effectiveness and efficiency.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/9/150 |
| spellingShingle | Fragoulakis Vasilis Maniadakis Nikos Pavlakis Andreas Tsiantou Vasiliki Theodorou Mamas Pavi Elpida Kyriopoulos John Factors influencing prescribing behaviour of physicians in Greece and Cyprus: results from a questionnaire based survey BMC Health Services Research |
| title | Factors influencing prescribing behaviour of physicians in Greece and Cyprus: results from a questionnaire based survey |
| title_full | Factors influencing prescribing behaviour of physicians in Greece and Cyprus: results from a questionnaire based survey |
| title_fullStr | Factors influencing prescribing behaviour of physicians in Greece and Cyprus: results from a questionnaire based survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors influencing prescribing behaviour of physicians in Greece and Cyprus: results from a questionnaire based survey |
| title_short | Factors influencing prescribing behaviour of physicians in Greece and Cyprus: results from a questionnaire based survey |
| title_sort | factors influencing prescribing behaviour of physicians in greece and cyprus results from a questionnaire based survey |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/9/150 |
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