Determinants of Chinese Physicians Intravenous Infusion Prescribing Behavior: A Cross‐Sectional Study Based on PRECEDE Framework and Structural Equation Model

Purpose It is crucial to understand the influencing factors of physicians’ intravenous infusion prescribing behavior for intravenous infusion and take precise interventions to regulate the use of intravenous infusion. This study uses the PRECEDE model framework to clarify the determining factors that affect doctors’ decisions on intravenous infusion prescriptions and then designs targeted intervention measures to guide the correct use of intravenous infusion, thereby optimizing patient care outcomes and resource allocation. Methods This study used a cross‐sectional survey method and designed a questionnaire based on the PRECEDE model to collect and analyze the determining factors that affect doctors’ practice of intravenous infusion prescriptions. At the same time, a structural equation model was constructed to investigate the influencing factors of doctors’ intravenous infusion prescription behavior. This study conducted an online questionnaire survey of doctors from different medical institutions in Pidu District, Chengdu, from April to May 2023. Subsequently, statistical methods such as t ‐test, analysis of variance, and Student–Newman–Keuls (SNK) were used for data comparison. Meanwhile, multiple linear regression analysis and structural equation modeling were employed to elucidate the complex relationships between different factors, as well as the influence of healthcare professionals’ attitudes and tendencies toward these factors. Results The results revealed statistically significant differences in the predisposing factor‐attitude (PFA) scores among doctors with varying titles, hospital levels, predisposing factor‐knowledge (PFK) scores, enabling factor (EF) scores, and reinforcing factor (RF) scores. Physicians with deputy senior titles and higher PFK and RF scores exhibited higher PFA scores. In addition, the structural equation model also showed that PFK and RF mitigate a physician’s attitudinal inclination toward prescribing IV fluids, whereas EF augments such attitudinal propensity. Conclusion In primary healthcare institutions in China, there is an urgent need for training on intravenous infusion‐related knowledge for medical staff with lower education and professional titles.