TY - JOUR
T1 - A reasoned action approach to physicians' utilization of drug information sources
AU - Gaither, Caroline A.
AU - Bagozzi, Richard P.
AU - Ascione, Frank J.
AU - Kirking, Duane M.
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - Purpose. The effects of attitude and subjective norm were investigated on physicians' intention to use seven drug information sources; the PDR, medical textbooks, medical journals/newsletters, pharmaceutical manufacturers' literature, pharmaceutical manufacturers' representatives, other physicians, and pharmacists. The effects of past behavior and practice characteristics were also examined. Methods. An eight-page mail questionnaire queried health maintenance organization physicians on their intention to use, attitude (emotional response) and subjective norm (colleagues' approval/disapproval) toward use of each source when searching for drug information on a fictitious, new H2 antagonist agent. Results. Responses were received from 54% (108) of the 200 physicians surveyed. Positive attitudes toward use had the greatest influence upon intention to use each of the sources (b ≤ .40) (except for pharmacists, for which subjective norm was the most important predictor (b = .31)). Past behavior directly affected intention to use the PDR (b = .27), and pharmaceutical manufacturers' literature (b = .26). The effects of attitude and/or subjective norm on intention to use non-commercial sources of drug information were moderated by the practice characteristics. Conclusions. These findings suggest that physicians' use of drug information sources is strongly influenced by their attitudes toward use. In addition, the importance of situational contingencies should not be overlooked when investigating the use of drug information sources.
AB - Purpose. The effects of attitude and subjective norm were investigated on physicians' intention to use seven drug information sources; the PDR, medical textbooks, medical journals/newsletters, pharmaceutical manufacturers' literature, pharmaceutical manufacturers' representatives, other physicians, and pharmacists. The effects of past behavior and practice characteristics were also examined. Methods. An eight-page mail questionnaire queried health maintenance organization physicians on their intention to use, attitude (emotional response) and subjective norm (colleagues' approval/disapproval) toward use of each source when searching for drug information on a fictitious, new H2 antagonist agent. Results. Responses were received from 54% (108) of the 200 physicians surveyed. Positive attitudes toward use had the greatest influence upon intention to use each of the sources (b ≤ .40) (except for pharmacists, for which subjective norm was the most important predictor (b = .31)). Past behavior directly affected intention to use the PDR (b = .27), and pharmaceutical manufacturers' literature (b = .26). The effects of attitude and/or subjective norm on intention to use non-commercial sources of drug information were moderated by the practice characteristics. Conclusions. These findings suggest that physicians' use of drug information sources is strongly influenced by their attitudes toward use. In addition, the importance of situational contingencies should not be overlooked when investigating the use of drug information sources.
KW - drug information sources
KW - health maintenance organization
KW - physician
KW - theory of reasoned action
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U2 - 10.1023/A:1016049311673
DO - 10.1023/A:1016049311673
M3 - Article
C2 - 8893264
AN - SCOPUS:0029907070
SN - 0724-8741
VL - 13
SP - 1291
EP - 1298
JO - Pharmaceutical research
JF - Pharmaceutical research
IS - 9
ER -