Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3359

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

McCue JD, Hansen CJ, Gal P.
Physicians' opinions of the accuracy, accessibility, and frequency of use of ten sources of new drug information.
South Med J 1986 Apr; 79:(4):441-3

Abstract:

We surveyed internists, surgeons, and general practitioners in a six-county area of North Carolina to determine how accurate and accessible they believed ten sources of new drug information to be and how frequently they used each of the sources. Evaluable questionnaires were returned by 119 of the 336 physicians. The majority indicated that all sources were accessible. Commercial sources were thought to be less accurate than noncommercial sources, but were used more frequently (P less than .0002), especially by physicians who had practiced more than 15 years (P less than .02). Written sources were thought to be more accurate (P less than .0001) and were preferred over oral sources of new drug information (P less than .0004). Pharmacists and pharmacology textbooks were believed to be both accurate and accessible, but were relatively infrequently used.

Keywords:
*analytic survey/United States/doctors/source of information/quality of information/sales representatives/journal advertisements/new drugs/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: HEALTH PROFESSIONALS/PROMOTION AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION: DOCTORS/PROMOTIONAL TECHNIQUES: DETAILING/PROMOTIONAL TECHNIQUES: JOURNAL ADVERTISEMENTS Adult Age Factors Aged Attitude of Health Personnel* Comparative Study Drug Information Services/standards* Drug Information Services/utilization Evaluation Studies Family Practice Humans Internal Medicine Middle Aged North Carolina Pharmacology Physicians* Questionnaires Surgery Time Factors