Provider effects in antibiotic prescribing: Evidence from physician exits

Shan Huang and Hannes Ullrich

No 18, Berlin School of Economics Discussion Papers from Berlin School of Economics

Abstract: In the fight against antibiotic resistance, reducing antibiotic consumption while preserving healthcare quality presents a critical health policy challenge. We investigate the role of practice styles in patients’ antibiotic intake using exogenous variation in patient-physician assignment. Practice style heterogeneity explains 49% of the differences in overall antibiotic use and 83% of the differences in second-line antibiotic use between primary care providers. We find no evidence that high prescribing is linked to better treatment quality or fewer adverse health outcomes. Policies improving physician decision-making, particularly among high-prescribers, may be effective in reducing antibiotic consumption while sustaining healthcare quality.

Keywords: antibiotic prescribing; practice styles; primary care providers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I11 I12 J44 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 81 pages
Date: 2023-06-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lma
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bdp:dpaper:0018

DOI: 10.48462/opus4-4975

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