Table 6.
Prescribing patterns among different groups of encounter characteristics (n = 8500)
| Encounter characteristics | Median medicines per encounter (interquartile range) | Percentage of encounters with generic medicines | Percentage of encounters with antibiotics | Percentage of encounters with injections | Percentage of encounters with essential medicines | Percentage of encounters with TCPMs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||||||
| Male | 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) | 91.4% | 15.1% | 4.2% | 71.6% | 51.4% |
| Female | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 91.1% | 15.2% | 3.2% | 69.5% | 53.4% |
| Missing | 18 | |||||
| Z or χ2 | −1.743 | 0.008 | 0.023 | 5.705 | 4.296 | 3.539 |
| P value | 0.081 | 0.928 | 0.880 | 0.017 * | 0.038 * | 0.060 |
| Age group | ||||||
| 0–14 | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 85.9% | 32.4% | 5.9% | 55.3% | 63.5% |
| 15–24 | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 87.6% | 33.0% | 7.6% | 69.7% | 62.2% |
| 25–44 | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 89.9% | 23.2% | 3.7% | 67.6% | 62.7% |
| 45–59 | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 91.1% | 13.5% | 2.9% | 69.2% | 51.3% |
| ≥ 60 | 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) | 92.8% | 11.2% | 4.1% | 73.9% | 47.8% |
| Missing | 43 | |||||
| χ2 | 12.549 | 22.742 | 211.431 | 17.435 | 47.095 | 112.701 |
| P value | 0.014 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.002 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * |
| Reason for encounter | ||||||
| Present with at least one symptom | 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) | 92.3% | 22.9% | 4.9% | 69.1% | 67.1% |
| Regular follow up | 1.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 93.9% | 3.9% | 2.7% | 70.2% | 23.4% |
| Prescription refill without other complaint | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 97.0% | 4.3% | 1.5% | 79.8% | 38.0% |
| Other reasons | 0 (0, 0) | 22.1% | 6.7% | 5.0% | 15.4% | 7.0% |
| χ2 | 613.625 | 1921.523 | 553.674 | 57.440 | 544.088 | 1139.777 |
| P value | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * |
| Insurance type | ||||||
| PIIS | 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) | 94.5% | 16.6% | 2.8% | 75.5% | 58.6% |
| EBMS | 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) | 94.2% | 14.1% | 3.1% | 71.3% | 59.2% |
| NRCMS | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 88.9% | 13.6% | 4.0% | 68.1% | 44.3% |
| Other insurance | 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) | 93.3% | 17.3% | 3.7% | 68.7% | 57.3% |
| No insurance | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 81.9% | 23.2% | 8.1% | 62.6% | 52.4% |
| Missing | 99 | |||||
| χ2 | 116.527 | 124.972 | 34.935 | 31.825 | 49.315 | 164.359 |
| P value | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * |
| First time visit | ||||||
| Yes | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 81.8% | 22.3% | 6.0% | 59.1% | 52.8% |
| No | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 92.0% | 14.7% | 3.5% | 71.1% | 52.5% |
| Missing | 229 | |||||
| Z or χ2 | −4.823 | 64.990 | 21.901 | 8.014 | 33.663 | 0.020 |
| P value | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.005 * | 0.000 * | 0.888 |
| Contracted patient | ||||||
| Yes | 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) | 92.4% | 12.6% | 3.3% | 72.6% | 50.2% |
| No | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 89.6% | 19.2% | 4.3% | 66.7% | 56.1% |
| Missing | 259 | |||||
| Z or χ2 | −6.092 | 20.185 | 65.265 | 5.847 | 32.177 | 26.959 |
| P value | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.016 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * |
| Chronic disease | ||||||
| Yes | 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) | 93.2% | 9.3% | 3.1% | 75.3% | 43.3% |
| No | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 88.8% | 23.0% | 4.4% | 63.9% | 65.0% |
| Z or χ2 | −7.330 | 52.042 | 305.195 | 9.166 | 128.968 | 395.725 |
| P value | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.002 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * |
| Number of problems involved | ||||||
| < 3 | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 90.5% | 14.0% | 3.8% | 68.1% | 49.8% |
| ≥ 3 | 3.0 (2.0, 4.0) | 96.8% | 22.3% | 3.1% | 85.0% | 69.0% |
| Z or χ2 | −29.714 | 50.620 | 54.311 | 1.447 | 139.293 | 149.682 |
| P value | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.229 | 0.000 * | 0.000 * |
| Consultation time | ||||||
| < 5 min | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 85.9% | 13.6% | 4.4% | 64.2% | 48.6% |
| 5–10 min | 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) | 93.9% | 15.9% | 3.5% | 75.6% | 54.9% |
| > 10 min | 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) | 95.3% | 17.0% | 3.2% | 71.3% | 54.7% |
| Missing | 227 | |||||
| χ2 | 160.473 | 171.193 | 11.100 | 5.549 | 99.659 | 28.615 |
| P value | 0.000 * | 0.000 * | 0.004 * | 0.062 | 0.000 * | 0.000 * |
Abbreviation: TCPM Traditional Chinese patent medicine, PIIS Public institution insurance scheme, EBMS Employee basic medical scheme, NRCMS New rural cooperative medical scheme
Note: other reasons for encounter included check-up, transfusion and injection, sickness certificate, etc.
*Significant in bold