Open Access
CC BY 4.0 · Libyan International Medical University Journal 2023; 08(01): 018-025
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1768037
Original Article

Factors Affecting the Cardiologists' Prescribing Attitudes in Dubai and the Northern Emirates: A Cross-sectional Study

Heba Jeroudy
1   Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
,
2   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
3   Center of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
,
Akram Ashames
2   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
3   Center of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
,
Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun
4   Department of Health and Safety, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Abstract

Background The growing concern of irrational drug use that leads to adverse events requires attention to investigate the prescription patterns. For cardiovascular drugs, this could increase patients' risk of developing a heart attack or stroke and coronary artery disease. This study particularly examines cardiologist behaviors that influence prescription patterns. The influence of pharmaceutical companies' promotions and other factors affecting their prescriptions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), mainly in Dubai and the Northern Emirates private hospitals and clinics, were investigated.

Methods Online survey questions were undertaken using the structured questionnaire, and the determined sample size of the cardiologists working in Dubai and the Northern Emirates was 59 using randomly generated numbers from the available cardiologists' registry and assuming 95% confident with the 80% response rate. Ratings of the prescribing behavior were done using the original Bloom's cutoff points, which were updated and adjusted to evaluate UAE cardiologists' general prescribing practices.

Results The average prescribing behavior score was moderate (76.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 75.1–77.8). Better prescribing patterns were observed among the cardiologists from Dubai compared with the Northern Emirates (odds ratio 4.24; 95% CI, 1.06–16.97). Continued medical education sponsored by pharmaceutical companies was the main influential factor (96.6%) affecting the cardiologists in changing their prescription. A total of 40.7% of the cardiologists believed in changing the prescription from brand to generic, while 43% stated that clinical updates, including evidence from new studies, were among the other factors affecting their prescribing behavior pattern.

Conclusion The cardiologists' prescribing behaviors in Dubai and the Northern Emirates are above average and the cardiologists are aware of the unethical acceptance of pricey gifts. Cardiologists in Dubai and the Northern Emirates are considered ethical in adopting a new medication in agreement with similar studies conducted regionally, as their primary motivation is the welfare of patients, which will help them rationally select medication.

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Ethical Approval

None.


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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
19. Juli 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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