Environmental Factors: Possible Reasons for Higher Incidence and Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in High-Income Countries

[摘要] Aims:  The purpose of the present qualitative study was to investigate strategies of preventing induced demand for medicine prescription through in-depth interviews with various stakeholders (physicians, pharmacists, faculty members, and patients). Materials and Methods:  For data gathering, we used in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 20 participants who were selected according to their experience. Interviews were transcribed, analyzed, and identified, and the key themes were named and coded with a sample of quotation. We used content analysis to analyze the interviews. All authors participated in the analysis process to avoid bias and receive an agreement. Results:  In the process of data analysis, all the strategies of preventing induced demand for prescription of medicine were elicited from the data analysis and were classified into two themes: Health education program and stewardship in the health system with 12 categories and 37 subcategories. Some strategies include promoting pharmaceutics' health literacy; developing, implementing, and evaluating policies to prevent induced demand for prescription of medicine; reforming the education system and medical research; development of health information; reforming the health system structure; reforming the monitor and control system in the health system; observing patients' rights charter; and reforming the insurance companies. Conclusion:  The present study provides evidence that confirms the induced demand is preventable. Hence, we recommend that stockholders consider the strategies to preventing induced demand for the prescription to prevent unnecessary prescriptions of medicines and the consequences.

[学科分类] 内科医学

[关键词] Medicine;patients;physicians;prescription;qualitative research