ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE OF PHARMACOECONOMICS AMONG PHYSICIANS IN INDIA: A QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED SURVEY
Keywords:
Cronbach alpha score, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson Correlation, PhysiciansAbstract
Objective: Pharmacoeconomics is essential for healthcare decision-making, providing insights into the cost-effectiveness of pharmaceutical therapies. With rising healthcare costs globally, especially in developing countries like India, it becomes crucial for clinicians to understand the balance between economic efficiency and clinical efficacy. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of Indian physicians regarding Pharmacoeconomics, highlighting their awareness and integration of cost- effectiveness in clinical decisions, which is vital for improving resource allocation and patient care. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 227 physicians using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Data were collected both online and offline, covering sociodemographic details and KAP-related questions. Cronbach’s alpha was used to ensure the reliability of the questionnaire, resulting in a final tool consisting of 5 knowledge, 5 attitude, and 4 practice questions. The data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests and Pearson correlation. Results: The results revealed moderate scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice (65.02%, 77.34%, and 71.08%, respectively) towards Pharmacoeconomics. Interestingly, graduate physicians scored higher in knowledge and attitude compared to postgraduates. Statistical analysis also claimed higher knowledge scores of more-experienced physicians that may be attributed to their prolonged involvement in clinical decision-making. Correlation analysis reported a significant positive association between attitude and practice scores (r = 0.364, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study highlights the need for the integration of Pharmacoeconomics in healthcare curriculum and also targeted educational programs to enhance the knowledge of Pharmacoeconomics among clinicians, thereby improving its application in clinical decision- making.
