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Author, Analytic (01) : Lurie, Nicole//Rich, Eugene C.//Simpson, Deborah E.//Meyer, Jeff//Schiedermayer, David L.//Goodman, Jesse L.//McKinney, W. Paul
Title, Analytic (04) : Pharmaceutical representatives in academic medical centers: interaction with faculty and housestaff
Medium Designator (05) : Analytic survey
Journal Title (10) : Journal of General Internal Medicine
Date of Publication (20) : 1990
Volume ID (22) : 1100
Location in Work (25) : 240-243
Notes (42) : Methodology note: The faculty who participated in this study were internists at university affiliated hospitals and the results may not be generalizable. The residents who participated were in internal medicine and the results may not be generalizable. Th
Abstract (43) : OBJECTIVE: To determine the nature, frequency and effects of internal medicine housestaff and faculty contacts with pharmaceutical representatives (PRs). DESIGN AND SETTING: The authors surveyed internal medicine faculty at seven midwest teaching hospitals and housestaff from two of the teaching programs. The survey asked about type and frequency of contacts with PRs and behavior that might be related to these contacts. T-tests and logistic regression were used to estimate the relationship between reported physician contacts and behavioral changes. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred forty faculty (78%) and 131 house officers (75%) responded to the survey. RESULTS: Faculty and housestaff averaged 1.5 brief contacts per month with PRs. Housestaff averaged more than one meal/month at pharmaceutical company expense. Twenty-five percent of faculty and 32% of residents reported changing their practices at least once based on PR contact. Independent predictors of faculty change in practice were brief or extended conversations and free meals. Predictors of faculty requests for formulary addition were brief conversations and receipt of honoraria or research support. Only brief conversations independently predicted housestaff changes in practice. CONCLUSION: Academic housestaff and faculty have frequent PR contact; such contact is related to changes in behavior. The potential for influence of PRs in academic medical centers should be recognized, and their activities should be evaluated accordingly.
Keywords (45) : *analytic survey/United States/physicians in training/doctors/hospitals/sales representatives/quality of prescribing/honoraria/drug company sponsored meals and travel/relationship between physicians in training and industry/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: HEALTH PROFESSIONALS/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: PHYSICIANS IN TRAINING/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: PAYMENT FOR MEALS, ACCOMODATION, TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE/PROMOTION AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION: DOCTORS/PROMOTION AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION: PHYSICIANS IN TRAINING/PROMOTION DISGUISED: APPOINTMENTS AND RETAINERS