Table 2 The subcategories and categories of the barriers to rational antibiotic prescription in Iran

Physicians’ limited professional knowledge

Physicians’ limited professional competence

Physicians’ poor attitude towards RAP

Physicians’ routine-based practice instead of evidence-based practice

Physicians’ limited accountability

Physicians’ fear over the legal consequences of not prescribing antibiotics

Physicians’ financial motives

Limited access to quality educational materials

Poor informational and functional resources

Poor in-service training for physicians

Lack of culturally appropriate guidelines

Inefficiency of the stewardship committee

Limited supervision of physicians’ performance

Ineffective supervision of RAP

Ineffective managerial supervision

Limited supervision of sampling for antimicrobial susceptibility testing

Sociocultural factors contributing to IRAP

Inappropriate context for RAP

Poor adherence of insurance companies to their financial commitments

Financial incentives of pharmaceutical companies for physicians