Table 3 Rating of factors that influence prescription decisions

Proven effect and patient benefit of the drug

2.96

2-3

0.19

Strength and quality of the scientific evidence

2.85

2-3

0.36

Prescriber's knowledge and experience

2.52

1-3

0.58

Patient's level of disease activity

2.40

0-3

1.01

National and professional guidelines

2.39

1-3

0.63

Colleagues

2.11

1-3

0.58

Local guidelines

2.08

0-3

0.92

Prescriber's attitude to biologics

1.96

0-3

0.98

Cost-effectiveness of biologics

1.93

0-3

0.78

Formal leaders at the department

1.85

1-3

0.66

Economic resources and pharmaceutical budget

1.78

0-3

0.75

Cost of the drug

1.70

0-3

0.87

Economic consequences for the department

1.70

0-3

0.87

Study participation by the prescriber

1.44

0-3

0.88

Informal leaders at the department

1.41

0-3

0.84

Feedback (from colleagues, leaders, statistics)

1.31

0-3

0.61

Mode of prescription (if taking it is complicated)

1.29

0-3

0.70

Patient's expressed requests and wishes

1.04

0-2

0.50

Non-disease-related attributes of the patient

0.93

0-3

0.62

Information/marketing from the pharmaceutical company

0.81

0-2

0.48

Media attention in newspapers, TV

0.43

0-1

0.49