Nearly eight out of 10 physicians view pharmaceutical companies and their sales reps as useful sources of information about prescription drugs, according to a recent survey released by KRC Research. The survey, which was supported by PhRMA, also looked at how physician respondents view their interactions with company sales reps.
More than 90 percent responded that interactions with sales reps allow them to learn about new indications for approved medicines, potential side effects of medicines, and both emerging benefits and risks of medicines. In addition, 84 percent of the physicians surveyed said that interactions with sales reps allow them the opportunity to provide feedback to pharma companies about their experiences with a specific medicine.
Large majorities also found information from company representatives to be up-to-date and timely (94 percent), useful (92 percent), and reliable (84 percent).
The telephone survey of more than 500 American Medical Association members also included several questions about company-sponsored peer education programs, in which physicians present FDA-approved scientific information to their peers on behalf of biopharmaceutical research companies. Nearly nine in 10 of physicians who reported attending these programs said the information was up-to-date, useful and reliable.
And in a related story, the Massachusetts State Assembly voted to repeal the Massachusetts gift ban by a vote of 128-22. The Massachusetts code of conduct, which went into effect on July 1, 2009, requires drug and device companies to report payments of more than $50 to healthcare providers. The legislation also requires affected companies to adopt a marketing code of conduct to help ensure that healthcare providers make choices about prescription drugs for their patients based on therapeutic benefits and cost-effectiveness.
Notably, one year after the code went into effect, a study published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that physician-industry collaboration had been impaired by the law. Physician education, new device procedure training, non-CME-accredited education, and promotional events were said to experience “the most significant impact.”
The House will now have to convince the Senate to include the repeal in the fiscal 2012 state budget, which is expected to be released next month.
