Understanding factors that influence the drug choice of prescribers: A Q-methodology study

Therapeutic decision-making often involves weighing several treatment options on the basis of, among other things, the disease profile, patient characteristics but also prescriber-specific factors. This study investigated the factors influencing therapeutic decision-making among prescribers and explores how these factors differ between healthcare professionals.

This Q-methodology study involved 37 participants from different medical backgrounds, including physicians, dentists, midwives, physician assistants and advanced nurse practitioners from various intra- and extramural settings in the Netherlands. Participants ranked 55 factors on their importance for medication prescribing, and factor analysis was used to identify distinct prescriber profiles. These profiles were subsequently enriched using qualitative data derived from post-sorting interviews.

Four prescriber profiles were identified that explained 59% of the study variance: pragmatic contextual, guideline oriented, experience driven and vulnerability focused. Several factors were ranked differently in each profile. The pragmatic contextual profile emphasized patient context and risk prevention, the guideline-oriented profile adhered to clinical guidelines, the experience-driven profile relied on clinical experience and patient-centred communication, and the vulnerability-focused profile prioritized personalized care for specific patient groups.

This study sheds light on the diverse factors influencing prescriber decision-making in medical practice. By identifying four prescriber profiles, it reveals the complexity and diversity in how prescribers balance guidelines, clinical experience and patient-specific considerations in their practice. These findings offer direction for developing educational and policy initiatives to enhance the quality of prescribing, ultimately improving patient outcomes.