Patients’ requests and physicians’ prescribing behavior. A systematic review

Abstract

Background: Patients' requests is a frequently cited factor in the literature affecting doctors’ prescribing decisions. This systematic review aims to consolidate quantitative findings, shedding light on the relationship between patient requests and the actions taken by general practitioners. A broader perspective was adopted by not limiting our investigation to specific medication categories. Instead, we treat the act of requesting as a communicative behavior, separate from the pharmacological context. Method: A comprehensive search across various online databases was performed. Two authors independently contributed the screening phase. The selection of articles and the data extraction were performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) flowchart. Results: Patient's request demonstrated to be a driving factor for physician's prescribing behavior not only when antibiotics are involved, but as a more generalized trend. Conclusions: The study acknowledges the complexity of patient-provider communication, emphasizing the asymmetry in roles and the tension between patient empowerment and medical expertise. By uncovering the underlying mechanisms shaping doctors' responses to patient requests, this systematic review enhances our understanding of communication in healthcare settings. Practice implications: Understanding the impact of patient requests on prescribing decisions highlights the importance of training healthcare providers in effective communication strategies that balance patient autonomy with clinical judgment. These insights can inform guidelines and interventions aimed at managing patient expectations, supporting more evidence-based prescribing practices and fostering better doctor-patient relationships. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.