ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the decision-making process that the physicians go through when prescribing drugs. It presents a background on decision making and on models of physician prescribing behavior, a review of studies and surveys on factors affecting physician prescribing, and concludes with an explanation of observed behavior and suggestions for improvement. A few researchers have proposed prescriptive models of prescribing behavior, while others have conducted descriptive studies of physician prescribing behavior. There are many interacting variables that influence a physician ultimate selection of a drug. The most recent studies of physician prescribing behavior were done by Melville and Shearer. Melville hypothesized that low job satisfaction among general practitioners may be associated with poor quality prescribing. Shearer examined the use of drug information sources for various types of drug information with a mail questionnaire. A drug category that has received extensive study and review with regard to physician prescribing behavior is psychotropics.
