Search

Objectives: Doctors perceive the interactions with pharmaceutical representatives as professionally appropriate. However, studies have shown that the interaction is associated with less rational prescribing of medications. No previous study has assessed doctors' opinions of the presentation of pharmaceutical representatives and the quality of claims provided to the doctors in Australia and Malaysia. The aim of this study was to compare the opinions of Australian and Malaysian doctors of sales explanations and quality of claims provided by the pharmaceutical representatives. Conclusions: Doctors in Australia and Malaysia held generally positive views of the presentations of pharmaceutical representatives, although the information being presented varied. Methods: We recruited samples of primary care doctors in Australia and Malaysia to evaluate pharmaceutical sales visits. After a visit, doctors were asked to fill out a questionnaire on the main product and claims discussed during the visit. Descriptive statistics were employed, and Chi-square analysis and clustered linear regression were used to assess differences between doctors from both countries. Results: The majority of doctors reported that the presentations were convincing as well as likely to change their prescribing habits and improved their knowledge. The majority of marketing claims recorded by doctors in Australia and Malaysia were classified as vague claims. Approximately one-third of the claims were unambiguous (Australia 31% and Malaysia 33%). In a majority of the presentations (Australia, 65%, Malaysia, 84%), doctors indicated that the primary claims by the pharmaceutical representatives were entirely or nearly accurate. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Background Pharmaceutical representatives provide medicines information on their promoted products to doctors. However, studies have shown that the quality of this information is often low. No study has assessed the medicines information provided by pharmaceutical representatives to doctors in Malaysia and no recent evidence in Australia is present. We aimed to compare the provision of medicines information by pharmaceutical representatives to doctors in Australia and Malaysia. Methods Following a pharmaceutical representative's visit, general practitioners in Australia and Malaysia who had agreed to participate, were asked to fill out a questionnaire on the main product and claims discussed during the encounter. The questionnaire focused on provision of product information including indications, adverse effects, precautions, contraindications and the provision of information on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) listings and restrictions (in Australia only). Descriptive statistics were produced. Chi-square analysis and clustered linear regression were used to assess differences in Australia and Malaysia. Results Significantly more approved product information sheets were provided in Malaysia (78%) than in Australia (53%) (P < 0.001). In both countries, general practitioners reported that indications (Australia, 90%, Malaysia, 93%) and dosages (Australia, 76%, Malaysia, 82%) were frequently provided by pharmaceutical representatives. Contraindications, precautions, drug interactions and adverse effects were often omitted in the presentations (range 25% - 41%). General practitioners in Australia and Malaysia indicated that in more than 90% of presentations, pharmaceutical representatives partly or fully answered their questions on contraindications, precautions, drug interactions and adverse effects. More general practitioners in Malaysia (85%) than in Australia (60%) reported that pharmaceutical representatives should have mentioned contraindications, precautions for use, drug interaction or adverse effects spontaneously (P < 0.001). In 48% of the Australian presentations, general practitioners reported the pharmaceutical representatives failed to mention information on PBS listings to general practitioners. Conclusions Information on indications and dosages were usually provided by pharmaceutical representatives in Australia and Malaysia. However, risk and harmful effects of medicines were often missing in their presentations. Effective control of medicines information provided by pharmaceutical representatives is needed.