4 research outputs found
Irrational prescribing of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines in general practice: testing the feasibility of an educational intervention among physicians in five European countries
International audienceBackground: Irrational prescribing of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines in general practice is common in Southern Europe. Recent findings from a research project funded by the European Commission (FP7), the " OTC SOCIOMED " , conducted in seven European countries, indicate that physicians in countries in the Mediterranean Europe region prescribe medicines to a higher degree in comparison to physicians in other participating European countries. In light of these findings, a feasibility study has been designed to explore the acceptance of a pilot educational intervention targeting physicians in general practice in various settings in the Mediterranean Europe region.Methods: This feasibility study utilized an educational intervention was designed using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). It took place in geographically-defined primary care areas in Cyprus, France, Greece, Malta, and Turkey. General Practitioners (GPs) were recruited in each country and randomly assigned into two study groups in each of the participating countries. The intervention included a one-day intensive training programme, a poster presentation, and regular visits of trained professionals to the workplaces of participants. Reminder messages and email messages were, also, sent to participants over a 4-week period. A pre-and post-test evaluation study design with quantitative and qualitative data was employed. The primary outcome of this feasibility pilot intervention was to reduce GPs' intention to provide medicines following the educational intervention, and its secondary outcomes included a reduction of prescribed medicines following the intervention, as well as an assessment of its practicality and acceptance by the participating GPs.Results: Median intention scores in the intervention groups were reduced, following the educational intervention, in comparison to the control group. Descriptive analysis of related questions indicated a high overall acceptance and perceived practicality of the intervention programme by GPs, with median scores above 5 on a 7-point Likert scale
Irrational prescribing of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines in general practice: testing the feasibility of an educational intervention among physicians in five European countries
Background: Irrational prescribing of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines
in general practice is common in Southern Europe. Recent findings from a
research project funded by the European Commission (FP7), the “OTC
SOCIOMED”, conducted in seven European countries, indicate that
physicians in countries in the Mediterranean Europe region prescribe
medicines to a higher degree in comparison to physicians in other
participating European countries. In light of these findings, a
feasibility study has been designed to explore the acceptance of a pilot
educational intervention targeting physicians in general practice in
various settings in the Mediterranean Europe region.
Methods: This feasibility study utilized an educational intervention was
designed using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). It took place in
geographically-defined primary care areas in Cyprus, France, Greece,
Malta, and Turkey. General Practitioners (GPs) were recruited in each
country and randomly assigned into two study groups in each of the
participating countries. The intervention included a one-day intensive
training programme, a poster presentation, and regular visits of trained
professionals to the workplaces of participants. Reminder messages and
email messages were, also, sent to participants over a 4-week period. A
pre- and post-test evaluation study design with quantitative and
qualitative data was employed. The primary outcome of this feasibility
pilot intervention was to reduce GPs’ intention to provide medicines
following the educational intervention, and its secondary outcomes
included a reduction of prescribed medicines following the intervention,
as well as an assessment of its practicality and acceptance by the
participating GPs.
Results: Median intention scores in the intervention groups were
reduced, following the educational intervention, in comparison to the
control group. Descriptive analysis of related questions indicated a
high overall acceptance and perceived practicality of the intervention
programme by GPs, with median scores above 5 on a 7-point Likert scale.
Conclusions: Evidence from this intervention will estimate the
parameters required to design a larger study aimed at assessing the
effectiveness of such educational interventions. In addition, it could
also help inform health policy makers and decision makers regarding the
management of behavioural changes in the prescribing patterns of
physicians in Mediterranean Europe, particularly in Southern European
countries