Factors Affecting the Prescribing Patterns of Antibiotics and Injections.
10.3346/jkms.2012.27.2.120
- Author:
Kyung Hyun CHOI
1
;
Sang Min PARK
;
Ju Hyun LEE
;
Soonman KWON
Author Information
1. Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kwons@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Primary Care;
Antibiotics;
Injections;
Prescription Pattern
- MeSH:
Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Female;
Hospitals;
Humans;
Inappropriate Prescribing;
Male;
Odds Ratio;
*Physician's Practice Patterns;
Primary Health Care;
Respiratory Tract Infections/drug therapy
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2012;27(2):120-127
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
There are serious problems concerning the inadequate prescription of antibiotics and overuse of injections in primary care. However, the determinants of prescription patterns in Korea are not well-documented. To examine the area characteristics affecting the prescription of antibiotics and injections in primary care practices in the treatment of respiratory tract infections (RTIs), a nationwide cross-sectional study was performed in all 250 administrative districts of Korea. The outcome was modeled as a binary variable: over-prescription or not compared with the nation-wide average. Over-prescription of antibiotics was associated with the ratio of specialists to general physicians and over-prescription in previous years in the area (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-14.8; and aOR, 12.0; 95% CI 5.5-25.9, respectively). Over-use of injections was associated with younger population, urban living and the number of hospital beds in the area (aOR, 0.2; 95% CI 0.1-0.4; aOR, 0.3; 95% CI 0.1-0.8; and aOR, 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.9; respectively). There were differences in the prescribing patterns in different districts; prescription patterns were affected more by supply factors than by demand factors. Highly competitive medical environment associated with supply factors is a significant determinant of prescription patterns in Korea.
