Predicting Physician Statin Prescription Intentions: A Theory of Planned Behavior Study

This study by Li et al. (2017) aimed to predict physicians' intentions to prescribe statins using the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The TPB posits that behavioral intentions are the primary determinants of behavior and are influenced by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. The study surveyed 623 physicians from China who were asked to indicate their intentions to prescribe statins and their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control regarding statin prescription.

The results of the study showed that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly predicted physicians' intentions to prescribe statins. Attitudes towards statin prescription were positively associated with intentions to prescribe, while subjective norms and perceived behavioral control were found to have both direct and indirect effects on intentions to prescribe. The study also found that physicians who had higher levels of knowledge and experience with statins were more likely to have positive attitudes towards statin prescription and higher intentions to prescribe.

Overall, the study suggests that the TPB can be a useful framework for predicting physicians' intentions to prescribe statins. The findings highlight the importance of addressing physicians' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control in promoting appropriate statin prescription practices.