Exploring the utilization of Anat remote prescriptions in Saudi Arabia during COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected health care systems in numerous ways. Various health care technologies have been used to mitigate the risk of disease transmission. Telemedicine is one such technology, and remote consulting and prescribing comprise one of the key aspects of telemedicine. In Saudi Arabia, the use of telephone health services via the Medical Consultation Call Center (937) has become more prevalent. The 937 Call Center is a service through which the Saudi Ministry of Health provides free medical consultation services for citizens, residents, and visitors in Saudi Arabia. After a consultation, a provider can issue e-prescriptions in an authenticated manner through the Anat platform. The e-prescribing system creates the opportunity to identify the rates of primary adherence -defined, in this study, as the retrieval of a medication from the pharmacy within 3 days of its prescription- and antibiotic prescription. OBJECTIVE To explore the utilization of the Anat remote prescription system in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the factors associated with antibiotic prescription and primary medication adherence. METHODS This retrospective analysis included data from the Anat e‑prescription system regarding a stratified random sample of 25000 prescriptions issued in Saudi Arabia in 2020. Predictive factors related to the patients, practitioners, and prescriptions were identified through bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Of the 25000 e‑prescriptions examined, 8885 were ultimately dispensed; thus, the primary medication adherence rate was 35.5%. The significant predictors of primary adherence in this study were children, respiratory diseases, and antibacterial drugs. In addition, antibiotics made up 32.1% of the e-prescriptions in this study. The prescription of antibiotics was significantly associated with male sex, children, genitourinary system diseases, and being treated by radiologists. CONCLUSIONS Almost two thirds 62.2% of the e-prescriptions in this study were not dispensed, and the overall prevalence of antibiotic e-prescriptions was 32.1%. The findings of this study highlight the need for targeted interventions directed toward improving primary medication adherence and and antibiotics prescription. Furthermore, this study’s findings may help decision makers in improving the system and making patient-centered care more efficient.