Factors Affecting Clinical Decision-making in Prescribing Perspective for First-episode Schizophrenia

Abstract

The study aimed to discover the factors that influence the clinical decision-making process, particularly in writing prescriptions for patients with first-episode schizophrenia. Eleven participants were involved in the interview and were asked questions regarding two vignettes of hypothetical patients showing first-episode schizophrenia. During the interviews, the participants were asked to think loudly (think-loud technique), allowing them to produce a wealth of data. Everything in the interview was recorded and printed. Thematic analysis was applied to the data through coding to elicit themes. These themes were: 1) multidisciplinary work, 2) appropriateness of the patient's profile with the antipsychotics, 3) the preference for medicinal efficacy over side effects in decision-making, 4) risk assessment is an essential part of the decision-making process, 5) information-seeking behaviour, and 6) the use of research evidence. Keywords: first-episode schizophrenia, prescribing, thematic analysis.