Healthy Skepticism Library item: 5166

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

Makkonen K.
Problems in distribution of scientific knowledge: intrauterine contraceptive devices and drug catalogs.
Int J Health Serv 1993; 23:(1):173-83

Abstract:

Intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) are a popular method of contraception worldwide. However, some serious problems have been associated with them. Finland has developed and now manufactures and exports IUDs. Therefore, drug control and the quality of drug information existing in Finland are significant for other countries, as well. This study analyzes the information in the Finnish commercial drug catalog on copper-releasing IUDs and compares it with the scientific literature, the instructions from the licensing authority, and material in its U.S. counterpart,
during the last two decades. The results indicate that the distribution of scientific knowledge to the drug catalogs has often been slow. In the early 1980s Finnish manufacturers did not give any practical information on their products, and then and later the Finnish catalog was less comprehensive than the U.S. catalog. The variations in the control system in different nations were reflected in the contents of the Finnish catalog. For practitioners, drug catalogs are important sources of medical information. The results of this study demonstrate (1) that more attention should be paid to the contents of these catalogs, and (2) the continuous need for up-to-date, unbiased drug information.

PIP: The University of Helsinki’s Department of Public Health has analyzed information in the Finnish Commercial drug catalog (Pharmaca Fennica [PF] on copper releasing IUDs and compared it with the scientific literature, guidelines from the licensing authority, and information in its US counterpart, the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR). The analyzed information was mostly from the 1980s. The quality and the quantity of the information varied depending on the nation publishing the catalog, and, in the Finnish catalog, the manufacturer’s mother country also had an effect. Even though there was a revision and publication lag for manufacturers’ drug catalogs, by 1981, the information in the US PDR was very extensive. Yet, the Finnish PF did not have information on copper releasing IUDs by 1981, even though Finnish IUDs comprised more than 80% of IUDs available on the market. In the 1980s, entries in the Finnish drug catalogs had not listed the consensus about the contraindications and side effects for IUD use found in the literature. External pressure forced the manufacturers to eventually include contraindications and side effects. Moreover, drug catalogs did not include the information recommended by the licensing authority. Studies of physician habits indicated that physicians pay considerable attention to drug advertisements and salespersons; thus, they might put healthy women at risk. Also, since communication through medical journals is faulty, pharmacopeias contain information of no practical value to physicians tend to pursue continuing medical education in areas in which they have an interest, the issue of factual information in drug catalogs is of even greater concern. Therefore, physicians and public health professionals must ceaselessly meet the need for practically relevant, unbiased, and up-to-date drug information

Keywords:
*content analysis/Finland/intrauterine contraceptive devices/commercial compendia/safety & risk information/PDR/Physicians’ Desk Reference/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: COMMERCIAL DRUG COMPENDIA/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: DRUG SAFETY

Notes:

Methodology note: The data was abstracted by a single reviewer and this could have lead to biases.