Influence of patient payment on antibiotic prescribing in Irish general practice: a cohort study

摘要

Antibiotics are widely believed to be overused and misused. Approximately 80% of all prescriptions for antibiotics are written by GPs. There are many external factors that influence a GP's decision to prescribe, such as patient pressure and social factors. Previous research has found that there was an association between fee-for-service GPs and high rates of antibiotic prescribing. Access to primary care services operates on a two-tier system in the Republic of Ireland: General Medical Service (GMS) card holders have free access to GPs and medications - eligibility is means tested; and; private patients (non-GMS card holders) must pay a non-subsidised fee (average:51) to visit their GP. This may affect GPs' decisions to prescribe antibiotics in consultations.