Healthy Skepticism Library item: 4486

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

Schofield I.
Prescrire—challenging marketing and promotional practices in France
Scrip Magazine 1992 Apr; (3):8-9
www.pjbpubs.co.uk/scrip/scrhome.html www.pjbpubs.co.uk/scrip/scrhome.html

Abstract:

Last year the French drug bulletin la revue Prescrire ran an editorial urging doctors not to see sales representatives for a year. Both companies and the detailers reacted negatively to the editorial although the editor said he was not recommending a boycott but asking doctors to weigh up the value of company drug information. Promotional pressure in France is stronger than in other European countries and a general practitioner can expect an average of 15-20 visits per week. According to Prescrire, negative data about drugs will be withheld. Another tactic used by detailers is to emphasize the mechanism of action for a new drug.

Keywords:
*analysis/France/sales representatives/quality of information/doctors/la revue Prescrire/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: MEDICAL JOURNALS/EDUCATING ABOUT PROMOTION: HEALTH PROFESSIONALS/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: DETAILING