Healthy Skepticism Library item: 1248

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

Baena Diez JM, Lopez Mompo C, Lopez Gosp D, Martinez Martinez JL, Ellacuria Torres A, Fuentes Rodriguez S.
[Good morning, Mr. Representative. Anything new to tell us about? Analysis of the pharmacological products introduced by the drugs industry into a health district]
Aten Primaria 2003 Dec 01; 32:(10):557-61
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14697177

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study whether the visits of technical health representatives (ITS) mean that new drugs are introduced. Design. Prospective, descriptive study. SETTING: Urban health centre. PARTICIPANTS: The products presented by 137 ITS from 83 drug laboratories in weekly sessions for a year were studied. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The products presented, the year they were first marketed, intrinsic value (IV), newness and use potential, cost per package and defined daily dose and material handed over were studied. RESULTS: 472 drug products were introduced. The most common ones belonged to the cardiovascular group (27.3%), digestion and metabolism (14.8%) and anti-infection drugs (13.3%). 65.5% had been on the market for <5 years. 84.3% had a high IV. Only 31 products (6.6%) were new (95% CI, 4.5-9.2). 71% of these supposed no or very slight therapeutic improvement, 25.8% a modest improvement and 3.2% a major improvement. Mean cost was 19.3 euros per package and 2 euros per DDD, with significant differences found (P<.006) on stratifying by date of marketing (more recently marketed products cost more). 61% of the products were presented with additional material (leaflets, monographs, journals), 21.6% with gifts of symbolic value, and 19.9% with samples of the product. There were significant differences (P<.03) between the new drugs and the normal prescriptions issued at the centre. In the new drugs, there were fewer products with high IV and cost per package and per DDD was higher.CONCLUSIONS: The products introduced by the reps do not include any important new drugs. They are presented with abundant back-up and are more expensive than those normally prescribed.

Keywords:
Advertising/statistics & numerical data* Catchment Area (Health) Drug Industry/statistics & numerical data* English Abstract Prospective Studies Spain