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Table 2 Characteristics of the study sample ( n= 816) and results of univariate analysis for the AD prescription ratio as a continuous variable and as a dichotomous variable (<0.42 for “low” prescribers and ≥0.42 for “high” prescribers)

From: How do GP practices and patient characteristics influence the prescription of antidepressants? A cross-sectional study

  

Number

Percent

Mean AD prescription ratio [standard deviation] b

Odds ratio (95% confidence interval) c

Characteristics of the GPs

 Gender

Female

234

28.7

0.47 [0.22]

1

Male

582

71.3

0.44 [0.26]

0.98 (0,84;1.15)

 Age category

<40 years

72

8.8

0.39 [0.15]

1

40 to 49 years

198

24.3

0.47 [0.21]

1.58 (1.26;1.96)

50 to 59 years

345

42.3

0.47 [0.24]

1.53 (1.26;1.86)

≥60 years

201

24.6

0.43 [0.31]

1.21 (0.99;1.47)

 Practice location

Rural

190

23.3

0.41 [0.16]

1

Urban

626

76.7

0.46 [0.27]

1.20 (1.05;1.4)

 GP partially particular mode of practice

Yes

53

6.5

0.39 [0.67]

0.63 (0.53; 0.7)

No

763

93.5

0.45 [0.19]

1

 Cessation of activity during the year 2010

Yes

14

1.7

0.46 [0.21]

0.84 (0.45;1.54)

No

802

98.3

0.45 [0.25]

1

 Cumulative years of medical practice

<10

155

19

0.42 [0.19]

1

10–19

213

26.1

0.45 [0.20]

1.06 (0.87;1.30)

20–29

267

32.7

0.47 [0.23]

1.18 (0.97;1.44)

>30

181

22.2

0.46 [0.35]

1.04 (0.85;1.27)

Characteristics of the GP’s practice and patients in 2010

 Number of consultations and home visits

<1,999

113

13.8

0.51 [0.50]

1

2,000 to 3,999

320

39.2

0.45 [0.22]

1.00 (0.80;1.24)

4,000 to 5,999

296

36.3

0.44 [0.14]

1.03 (0.82;1.28)

≥6,000

87

10.7

0.40 [0.15]

0.81 (0.63;1.05)

 Number of different patients per year

<999

369

45.2

0.47 [0.31]

1

>1,000

447

54.8

0.43 [0.18]

0.90 (0.79;1.04)

 Number of registered patients

<499

213

26.1

0.46 [0.42]

1

500–1,000

435

53.3

0.45 [0.15]

1.21 (1.04;1.41)

>1,000

168

20.6

0.45 [0.15]

1.28 (1.05;1.57)

 Mean age of patients

<40

83

10.2

0.46 [0.37]

1

40–49

574

70.3

0.46 [0.20]

1.11 (0.89;1.38)

≥50

159

19.5

0.43 [0.34]

0.92 (0.72;1.18)

 Number of patients with low income*

<39

478

58.6

0.46 [0.30]

1

40–79

176

21.6

0.45 [0.16]

0.95 (0.80;1.14)

≥80

162

19.9

0.41 [0.14]

0.77 (0.66;0.90)

 Number of patients with chronic diseasea

<100

244

29.9

0.48 [0.40]

1

100–199

361

44.2

0.45 [0.14]

1.06 (0.86;1.25)

200–299

175

21.4

0.43 [0.14]

0.93 (0.77;1.12)

≥300

36

4.4

0.40 [0.10]

0.90 (0.66;1.24)

 Number of days of sickness certificates prescribed

<1,999

223

27.3

0.46 [0.42]

1

2,000–3,999

281

34.4

0.46 [0.14]

1.34 (1.12;1.60)

4,000–5,999

191

23.4

0.44 [0.15]

1.12 (0.93;1.38)

≥6,000

121

14.8

0.42 [0.14]

1.00 (0.82;1.22)

 Number of patients prescribed a sickness certificate

<100

454

55.6

0.46 [0.31]

1

≥100

362

44.4

0.44 [0.14]

0.97 (0.84;1.11)

 Prescription of new ADs

≥70% new AD

741

90.8

0.46 [0.25]

1.60 (1.38;1.86)

<70% new ADs

75

9.2

0.33 [0.17]

1

 Total volume of reimbursement (number of units)

0–19,999

261

32

0.49 [0.39]

1

20,000–39,999

397

48.7

0.44 [0.14]

0.96 (0.82;1.13)

≥40,000

158

19.4

0.41 [0.15]

0.87 (0.75;1.01)

 Number of prescriptions orders

0 to 1,999

152

18.6

0.49 [0.49]

1

2,000 to 3,999

298

36.5

0.45 [0.16]

1.11 (0.92;1.35)

4,000 to 5,999

270

29.9

0.44 [0.14]

1.08 (0.89;1.31)

≥6,000

96

9.7

0.42 [0.13]

0.98 (0.77;1.24)

  1. *Patients with low income, treated free of charge, with no direct payment to the GP.
  2. aChronic diseases, at least one of 30 chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, or chronic heart failure.
  3. bAD prescription ratio as a continuous variable.
  4. cRelative to the dichotomized AD prescription ratio using the lower prescription level as the reference level.