Disentangling prescribing behaviour of Cypriot physicians, within a complex framework of interacting. (15th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Theodorou, Mamas; Kontemeniotis, Antonis; Kantaris, Marios; Farmakas, Antonis
• Is Part Of: International journal of health planning and management. Volume 37:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 2410
• Page End: 2420
• Publication Date: 2022-04-15
• Subjects: Cyprus -- economic crisis -- physicians prescribing behaviour; Health planning -- Periodicals; Health services administration -- Periodicals; Santé publique -- Planification -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Administration -- Périodiques; 362.1068
• DOI: 10.1002/hpm.3480
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0749-6753

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of the study is to investigate how physicians' prescribing behaviour in Cyprus adopts to the fragmented healthcare system and to the inadequacies of pharmaceutical market in times of economic crisis. A survey was carried out in using a postal questionnaire administered to a stratified sample of 320 physicians. The questionnaire used was the same with the one used in 2007 survey carried out in Greece and Cyprus, along with complementary questions for prescribing within economic crisis. The comparative analysis and assessment of the findings from the two surveys revealed that the current system and the inadequacies of pharmaceutical market in Cyprus expose physicians to a contrasting environment of public and private sector in terms of incentives, governance principles, financing and market structure. In contrast to public sector prescribers who have behaved in accordance with the governance principles, there is a strong motivation for private sector physicians to favour new branded products, and generally rejecting any ideas that could limit their clinical autonomy. Economic crisis seems to be unilaterally influential, as public sector physicians became more cost conscious while private sector prescribing is still resisting due to strong financial incentives. Highlights: Prescribing behaviour of physicians in Cyprus amid economic crises. Pressures by patients, policy makers and pharma companies shape prescribing behaviour. Disentangling prescribing behaviour could lead to the revelation of opportunities for improvements. Differential prescribing could justify that decision‐making might be compromised for economic reasons.