The Annals of pharmacotherapy
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Factors that influence prescribing decisions.
Strategies to control the quality and cost of medication use are largely dependent on the ability to alter selection of medications. Previous models of prescribing behavior have focused on physicians. In the hospital setting, clinical pharmacists and formulary committee members are also key players in drug therapy decision-making. Differences between physicians, formulary committee members, and clinical pharmacists have not been compared. Knowledge of these differences could have importance in predicting the effectiveness of strategies designed to influence drug use in this setting. ⋯ Those who seek to implement programs to alter medication use should recognize and employ factors that are most influential in the decision-making process. Further, it may be important to consider differences that exist between key participants in the medication use process.