Healthy Skepticism Library item: 1874

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Lurie N, Rich EC, Simpson DE, Meyer J, Schiedermayer DL, Goodman JL, McKinney WP.
Pharmaceutical representatives in academic medical centers: interaction with faculty and housestaff.
J Gen Intern Med 1990 May-Jun; 5:(3):240-3
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2341925

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To determine the nature, frequency and effects of internal medicine housestaff and faculty contacts with pharmaceutical representatives (PRs). DESIGN AND SETTING: The authors surveyed internal medicine faculty at seven midwest teaching hospitals and housestaff from two of the teaching programs. The survey asked about type and frequency of contacts with PRs and behavior that might be related to these contacts. T-tests and logistic regression were used to estimate the relationship between reported physician contacts and behavioral changes. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred forty faculty (78%) and 131 house officers (75%) responded to the survey. RESULTS: Faculty and housestaff averaged 1.5 brief contacts per month with PRs. Housestaff averaged more than one meal/month at pharmaceutical company expense. Twenty-five percent of faculty and 32% of residents reported changing their practices at least once based on PR contact. Independent predictors of faculty change in practice were brief or extended conversations and free meals. Predictors of faculty requests for formulary addition were brief conversations and receipt of honoraria or research support. Only brief conversations independently predicted housestaff changes in practice. CONCLUSION: Academic housestaff and faculty have frequent PR contact; such contact is related to changes in behavior. The potential for influence of PRs in academic medical centers should be recognized, and their activities should be evaluated accordingly.

Keywords:
*analytic survey/United States/physicians in training/doctors/hospitals/sales representatives/quality of prescribing/honoraria/drug company sponsored meals and travel/relationship between physicians in training and industry/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: HEALTH PROFESSIONALS/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: PHYSICIANS IN TRAINING/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: PAYMENT FOR MEALS, ACCOMODATION, TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE/PROMOTION AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION: DOCTORS/PROMOTION AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION: PHYSICIANS IN TRAINING/PROMOTION DISGUISED: APPOINTMENTS AND RETAINERS Academic Medical Centers* Drug Industry/statistics & numerical data* Faculty, Medical* Humans Internal Medicine* Internship and Residency/statistics & numerical data* Interprofessional Relations* Minnesota Questionnaires Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Wisconsin