Attitude des médecins vis-à-vis de la promotion pharmaceutique : enquête en endocrinologie

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recently, special attention has been paid to the relationship between health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry, which could influence medical prescriptions. The aim of this work was to evaluate the attitude of Tunisian endocrinologists towards pharmaceutical promotion. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study based on an anonymous 9-item survey about the attitudes and behaviors of physicians towards the pharmaceutical promotion. The study included 120 residents and endocrinology specialists. RESULTS: One-third of the physicians did not complete the survey. We analyzed 75 responses of 32 residents and 43 specialists. The inexpensive gifts were appreciated by most participants. Costly gifts were judged less frequently appropriate. However, these expensive gifts were received or desired by many participants. Among residents, 9.4% thought that their prescriptions would be very influenced by the promotion while they estimated that 15.6% of their colleagues would be (p=ns). This difference was significant among the specialists: respectively 4.7% and 35.3% (p=0.002). Training about conflict of interest is insufficient according to 96.8% of residents and 97.6% of specialists (p=ns). Contact between learners and medical visitors should be prohibited according to 9.4% of residents and 36.6% of specialists (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Most participants confirmed that they had links of interest with the pharmaceutical industry, but they thought that this had no influence on their prescriptions. Many studies have shown that gifts, even small ones, are very effective in subtly influencing doctors' therapeutic attitudes. Awareness is needed to ensure an independent medical prescription.