Introduction: Electronic prescribing has been implemented in many countries, with its first application in outpatient care. In Iran, electronic prescribing has been seriously implemented for two years now, and while it has been successful in some regions, it has also faced challenges. Identifying these challenges and determining their causes can not only help address the problems faced by physicians but also significantly contribute to the improvement of the electronic prescribing program. The present study aimed to investigate the challenges faced by physicians in electronic prescribing in Ahvaz County in 2024.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in Ahvaz County, Khuzestan Province, Iran, in 2024, with a population of physicians. Participants were 33 individuals selected using a purposive sampling method. Data collection methods included semi-structured interviews with physicians, field notes, and recording reminders based on the principle of data saturation.
Results: The data analysis process yielded four main themes (inconsistencies in drug coding, lack of security in electronic prescription systems, lack of legal regulations and non-acceptance of electronic prescribing by physicians) and 11 categories (inconsistency of some codes, duplicate codes, differences in the type of registration of a drug, absence of some codes for some drugs, lack of coordination between insurers, factors related to insurance organizations, inconsistency of patient information) and 21 subcategories.
Conclusion: Physicians face numerous challenges due to various reasons, such as inconsistencies in insurance systems in drug coding, the use of different prescriptions by insurance organizations, the lack of integration between insurance and pharmacy systems, frequent internet outages, lack of coordination between pharmacies and physicians, excessive or incorrect drug dispensing by some pharmacies. Addressing these challenges can pave the way for the success of the electronic prescribing program in Ahvaz.