[Predictive factors of drug prescription: profile of the overprescribing physician]. / Factores predictivos de la prescripción farmacéutica: perfil del médico hiperprescriptor.

Because of increasing pharmaceutical costs, several programs aimed at optimizing physician's prescription have been set up in the last years. However, factors determining prescription volume are not well known yet. The aim of study is to determine which the characteristics of the practitioner (GP) or the working place are related with a higher amount of drug prescription. With data obtained from PE-29, PE-20, and the managing center Human Resources Department databases, concerning the whole GP staff (N = 293), via a multiple regression model, we were able to determine the following factors predicting higher prescription:rural work place, longer distance to reference specialty center, care to children, lack of postgraduate education, short term work contract, and part time staff.