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When Technological Advance Meets Physician Learning in Drug Prescribing

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  • Domenico Depalo
  • Jay Bhattacharya
  • Vincenzo Atella
  • Federico Belotti

Abstract

The support for scientific investigation in biomedicine depends in part on the adoption of new knowledge into medical practice. We investigate how a technological advance, in the form of a large and influential 2010 randomized controlled study, changed physician practice in statin (a medication used to manage high cholesterol levels) prescribing. We analyze data representative of the Italian population for the period 2003-2014. Our analysis accounts for possible non-random sorting of patients into treatment. We show that both doctors and patients responded promptly to this technological shock, changing the mix of patients who received therapy, drug dosing, and frequency of testing for side effects, as well as patient adherence to therapy. The results show that investments in scientific knowledge can rapidly diffuse into practice in professions where continuing education is the norm.

Suggested Citation

  • Domenico Depalo & Jay Bhattacharya & Vincenzo Atella & Federico Belotti, 2019. "When Technological Advance Meets Physician Learning in Drug Prescribing," NBER Working Papers 26202, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:26202
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    Cited by:

    1. Domenico Depalo, 2020. "Explaining the causal effect of adherence to medication on cholesterol through the marginal patient," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(S1), pages 110-126, October.
    2. Daniel Avdic & Katharina E. Blankart, 2021. "A hard look at soft cost-control measures in healthcare organizations: Evidence from preferred drug policies in Germany," Papers 2021-07, Centre for Health Economics, Monash University.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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