Healthy Skepticism Library item: 596

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

Sergeant MD, Hodgetts PG, Godwin M, Walker DM, McHenry P.
Interactions with the pharmaceutical industry: a survey of family medicine residents in Ontario.
CMAJ 1996 Nov 1; 155:(9):1243-

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To determine the attitudes, knowledge and practices of family medicine residents relating to the pharmaceutical industry and to assess the effectiveness of existing guidelines on appropriate interactions with the pharmaceutical industry. DESIGN: Survey by mailed questionnaire. SETTING: Ontario. PARTICIPANTS: All 262 second-year family medicine residents in Ontario (seven centres); 226 (86.3%) responded. RESULTS: Fifty-two (23.0%) of the residents who responded stated that they had read the CMA policy statement on appropriate interactions between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry. A total of 124 (54.9%) stated that they would attend a private dinner paid for by a pharmaceutical representative; the proportion was not significantly reduced among those who had read the CMA guidelines, which prohibit the acceptance of personal gifts. In all, 186 (82.3%) reported that they would like the opportunity to interact with pharmaceutical representatives in an educational setting, even though several programs now discourage these interactions. Approximately three quarters (172/226 [76.1%]) of the residents indicated that they plan to see pharmaceutical representatives in their future practice. Residents at Centre 2 were significantly more critical of the pharmaceutical industry than those from the other centres. Overall, being aware of, and familiar with, departmental policy or CMA policy on interactions with the pharmaceutical industry did not affect the residents’ attitudes or intended future practices. CONCLUSION: The presence of guidelines concerning physicians’ interactions with the pharmaceutical industry does not appear to have a significant impact on family medicine residents in Ontario.

Keywords:
*analytic survey Canada attitude toward promotion physicians in training gift giving drug company sponsored meals and travel sales representatives relationship between physicians in training and industry ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: PHYSICIANS IN TRAINING EDUCATING ABOUT PROMOTION: PHYSICIANS IN TRAINING ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: PAYMENT FOR MEALS, ACCOMODATION, TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS