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Influencing the prescribing behaviour of physicians: a metaevaluation
R S Pippalla1, D A Riley, V Chinburapa
1Department of Pharmacy Administration, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Howard University, Washington, D.C. 20059, USA.
Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
|August 1, 1995
Summary
This study quantitatively evaluated interventions to change physician prescribing behavior, finding a significant average effect size. Success rates varied widely across different physician intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Health Services Research
- Pharmacoeconomics
Background:
- Physician prescribing behavior significantly impacts healthcare costs and patient outcomes.
- Qualitative evaluations of interventions exist, but quantitative data on their effectiveness is lacking.
- This study addresses the need for quantitative evidence on interventions influencing physician prescribing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at influencing physician prescribing behavior.
- To synthesize findings from published studies using meta-analysis.
- To determine the overall effect size and variability in intervention success rates.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search identified 26 relevant studies published between January 1979 and September 1991.
- Effect sizes were extracted from the selected studies.
- A meta-analysis was performed to calculate the mean effect size (Zr and Cohen's d).
Main Results:
- The pooled mean effect size (Zr) was 0.559 (Cohen's d = 0.886), indicating a substantial effect of interventions.
- The Estimated Fail-Safe N was 89, suggesting the robustness of the findings.
- Intervention success rates ranged dramatically from 1% to 99%.
Conclusions:
- Interventions designed to influence physician prescribing behavior demonstrate a significant positive effect.
- There is considerable heterogeneity in the success of these interventions, highlighting the need for further research into specific effective strategies.
- This quantitative synthesis provides valuable evidence for healthcare policymakers and educators aiming to optimize prescribing practices.