Factors Affecting Family Physicians’ Drug Prescribing: A Cross-Sectional Study in Khuzestan, Iran

Background Rational prescription is a considerable issue which must be paid more attention to assess the behavior of prescribers. The aim of this study was to examine factors affecting family physicians’ drug prescribing.   Methods We carried out a retrospective cross-sectional study in Khuzestan province, Iran in ۲۰۱۱. Nine hundred eighty-six prescriptions of ۴۲۱ family physicians (including ۳۲۴ urban and ۹۷ rural family physicians) were selected randomly. A multivariate Poisson regression was used to investigate potential determinants of the number of prescribed drug per patient.   Results The mean of medication per patient was ۲.۶ ± ۱.۲ items. In the majority (۹۱.۹%) of visits a drugs was prescribed. The most frequent dosage forms were tablets, syrups and injection in ۳۰.۱%, ۲۶.۹%, and ۱۸.۷% of cases respectively. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics were ۲۹.۷% and ۱۷.۱% of prescribed drugs respectively. The tablets were the most frequent dosage forms (۳۸.۶% of cases) in adult’s patients and syrups were the most frequent dosage forms (۴۹% of cases) in less than ۱۸ years old. Paracetamols were popular form of NSAIDs in two patients groups. The most common prescribed medications were oral form.   Conclusion In Khuzestan, the mean of medication per patient was fewer than national average. Approximately, pattern of prescribed drug by family physicians (including dosage form and type of drugs) was similar to other provinces of Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Drug Prescribing ، Family Physician ، Primary Care ، Khuzestan