Factors affecting the essential medicine prescribing behavior among general practitioners in Beijing, China: a cross-sectional study with structural equation model.

Background: The aim of this study is to explore the influence of GPs'information, motivation and behavior skills on EM prescribing behavior in urban and suburban districts.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to November 2022 cross 3 urban districts and 4 suburban districts in Beijing. The structural equation model was used to analyze the factors influencing the essential medicine prescription behavior among general practitioners in urban and suburban districts.

Results: A total of 511 valid questionnaires were collected. There was a statistically significant difference in mean scores for personal motivation and behavioral skills between urban GPs and suburban GPs. For urban GPs, the path analysis revealed that the social motivation had a direct effect on the essential medicine prescribing behavior (β = 0.225, p < 0.05). In contrast, for suburban GPs, both social motivation and personal motivation had a direct effect on the essential medicine prescribing behavior, respectively (β = 0.175, p < 0.05; β = 0.193, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Social motivation of urban GPs were positively and significantly associated with essential medicine prescribing behavior. Social motivation and personal motivation of suburban GPs were positively and significantly associated with essential medicine prescribing behavior. Therefore, various corresponding policies and measures should be developed to promote the National Essential Medicines Policy in China.