The importance of side effects and outcomes in differentiating between prescription drug products

This study determined the importance of side effects and outcomes (i.e. the control of disease, convenient dosing and cost) in physicians' differentiation of drug products used to treat hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux. In addition, the study examined whether the importance of particular characteristics attributed to a drug varied with the practice setting. The multiattribute attitude model was used as a framework to examine physicians' perceptions of the importance and the probability of occurrence of specified side effects, results and their prescription intentions. Two groups of physicians were interviewed to identify determinant side effects and results. A questionnaire was used to obtain data by post from a random sample of 2,400 physicians in four types of practices: solo practice, group practice, institution and government (n = 527, 22% response). The findings indicate that the perceived likelihood of occurrence of side effects and results differed with the drug products but did not differ with the type of practice. Practice setting, however, was found to have a significant effect on intention to prescribe. Physicians in each setting differed in their intentions to prescribe certain studied drugs. Finally, physicians in the four settings were found to be similar in their ranking of the importance of particular characteristics of the drug. The control of disease was the most important result in all three scenarios, followed by individual side effects.