Perceptions of Yemeni physicians about interactions with medical representatives

Australian Cancer Physicians and the Pharmaceutical Industry: A Survey of Attitudes and Interactions

PURPOSE

Interactions between cancer physicians and the pharmaceutical industry may create conflicts of interest that can adversely affect patient care. We aimed to survey cancer physicians regarding their attitudes toward and interactions with industry.

METHODS

We surveyed Australian cancer physicians between December 2020 and February 2021, questioning how often they interacted with industry and their attitudes toward this. We also assessed factors associated with accepting payments from industry and the amount received, and opinions on policies and industry influence. We used logistic and linear regression to examine links between attitudes and behaviors.

RESULTS

There were 116 responses (94 complete). Almost half (n = 53 of 115, 46.1%) felt that there was a positive relationship between cancer physicians and industry. Most (n = 79 of 104, 76.0%) interacted with industry at least once a month, and 67.7% (n = 63 of 93) had received nonresearch payments from industry previously, with a median value of 2,000 Australian dollars over 1 year. Most respondents believed that interactions could influence prescribing while simultaneously denying influence on their own prescribing (n = 66 of 94, 70.2%). Those who judged general sales representative interactions (odds ratio [OR] 9.37 [95% CI, 1.05 to 83.41], P = .045) or clinician sponsorship (OR 3.22 [95% CI, 1.01 to 10.30], P = .049) to be more acceptable also met with sales representatives more frequently. Physicians were more likely to accept industry payments when they deemed sponsorship of clinicians for conferences (OR 10.55 [95% CI, 2.33 to 47.89], P = .002) or honoraria for advisory board membership more acceptable (OR 3.91 [95% CI, 1.04 to 14.74], P = .04) or when they had higher belief in industry influence over own prescribing (OR 25.51 [95% CI, 2.70 to 241.45], P = .005).

CONCLUSION

Australian cancer physicians interact with industry frequently, and those who feel positive about these interactions are likely to do so more often. More research is needed to understand the motivations behind these interactions.

Pharmaceutical promotional activity and patient’s quality of life

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of these unethical promotional activities on patient’s quality of life.

Design/methodology/approach

In-depth interviews were conducted, and then quantitative method was also used on a large number of health care professionals.

Findings

Findings of the study demonstrated that unethical activities influence biased prescriptions and then it helps to misuse of medicines. The drug resistance is also affected by misuse of medicines. Misuse of medicine further affects on financial burden on patient. Drug resistance has impact on health compromise. Furthermore, finding of the study describes that drug resistance, health compromise and financial lead to the imbalance of patient’s quality of life. Overall, findings revealed that pharmaceutical unethical promotional activity to achieve sales target is also a major cause of elements that disturbs patient’s quality of life.

Originality/value

This is a research paper and not published before.