title: Challenges faced by primary care physicians when prescribing for patients with chronic diseases in a teaching hospital in Malaysia: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify the challenges faced by primary care physicians (PCPs) when prescribing medications for patients with chronic diseases in a teaching hospital in Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  3 focus group discussions were conducted between July and August 2012 in a teaching primary care clinic in Malaysia. A topic guide was used to facilitate the discussions which were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  PCPs affiliated to the primary care clinic were purposively sampled to include a range of clinical experience. Sample size was determined by thematic saturation of the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  14 family medicine trainees and 5 service medical officers participated in this study. PCPs faced difficulties in prescribing for patients with chronic diseases due to a lack of communication among different healthcare providers. Medication changes made by hospital specialists, for example, were often not communicated to the PCPs leading to drug duplications and interactions. The use of paper-based medical records and electronic prescribing created a dual record system for patients' medications and became a problem when the 2 records did not tally. Patients sometimes visited different doctors and pharmacies for their medications and this resulted in the lack of continuity of care. PCPs also faced difficulties in addressing patients' concerns, and dealing with patients' medication requests and adherence issues. Some PCPs lacked time and knowledge to advise patients about their medications and faced difficulties in managing side effects caused by the patients' complex medication regimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCPs faced prescribing challenges related to patients, their own practice and the local health system when prescribing for patients with chronic diseases. These challenges must be addressed in order to improve chronic disease management in primary care and, more importantly, patient safety.
authors: Department of Primary Care Medicine, University of Malaya Primary Care Research Group (UMPCRG), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Renukha
authors: R
authors: Sellappans
authors: Department of Primary Care Medicine, University of Malaya Primary Care Research Group (UMPCRG), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Pauline Siew Mei
authors: PS
authors: Lai
authors: Department of Primary Care Medicine, University of Malaya Primary Care Research Group (UMPCRG), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Chirk Jenn
authors: CJ
authors: Ng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D055695:Electronic Prescribing; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008508:Medication Errors; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT; MEDICATION SAFETY; PATIENT SAFETY; PRESCRIBING; PRIMARY CARE