Abstract

GARCES REDONDO, Guillermo et al. Toledo Primary Care Doctors' Opinion on visits from Pharmaceutical Representatives. Rev Clin Med Fam [online]. 2010, vol.3, n.1, pp.5-9. ISSN 2386-8201.

Objective: To determine primary care doctors' attitude and behaviour towards the Pharmaceutical Industry (PI), especially pharmaceutical sales representatives. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study, based on telephone interviews. Setting: Primary care, Toledo Health Area. Main measurements: The questionnaire included items on socio-demographics, work, frequency of visits, attitude toward the information provided, opinion on the usefulness of the visit and influence on prescribing habits, attitude towards marketing strategies and opinion on the ethical issues concerning the doctor-PI relationship. Results: Only 63 (25.9%) doctors were interviewed. The mean age was 50.7 years (65.1% male). Thirty two point two per cent were tutors, 57.1% worked in rural areas and 31.6% were specialised through the Spanish medical residency training (MIR) system. Ninety eight point four percent received visits from pharmaceutical representatives, 77.8% every day. The average number visits per week was 10.2. Only 16.1% of doctors said they reviewed the information provided by the representatives and 45.2% said they checked it at a later time. The representatives are the second source of information on medicinal products. Most doctors had a favourable opinion on the usefulness of the visit. Fifty nine point seven percent of doctors did not usually attend courses organised by the PI. Sixty point three percent said they attended a Congress when invited by the PI. They usually go to lunches/dinners when invited by the representatives. Fifty five point six percent have received a gift from pharmaceutical companies at some time. Most doctors recognised the influence of pharmaceutical marketing on other doctors' prescribing habits. Fifty point eight percent consider that there are no ethical issues concerning the doctor-PI relationship. Conclusions: Visits from pharmaceutical representatives is widespread and many doctors consider them to be useful. The doctors thought the visits had little influence on their own prescribing habits. Half of the doctors considered there were no ethical issues concerning the doctor-PI relationship.

Keywords : Drug Industry; Marketing; Drug Promoter; Primary Health Care.

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