Healthy Skepticism Library item: 18224

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

Dobson R
Pharmaceutical industry is main influence in GP prescribing
BMJ 2003 Feb 8; 326:(7384):301
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/326/7384/301

Abstract:

GPs rely heavily on information provided by the pharmaceutical industry and its representatives when they prescribe new drugs.

They are more likely to rely on data provided by drug companies than on independent sources, the results of a new study have shown.

“The significant first stage in the decision-making process is awareness of a new drug. The most important sources were the pharmaceutical industry, in particular the company representative, non-peer reviewed literature, the mass media, and, to a lesser extent, hospital colleagues,” said the authors of the study in Family Practice (2003; 20:61-8)[Abstract/Free Full Text].

“Important biomedical influences were the failure of current therapy and adverse effect profile. More influential than these, however, was the pharmaceutical representative. Hospital consultants and observation of hospital prescribing was cited next most frequently,” the authors wrote.

The report said that, although choosing a medicine for a patient is a key task for doctors, just why . . .