THE PRACTISING PHYSICIAN'S APPROACH TO THE EVALUATION OF NEW DRUGS

Physicians have the difficult task of locating and evaluating information about the numerous new drugs that continually appear on the market, and this difficulty is magnified by the massive promotional efforts of pharmaceutical manufacturers. Doctors should use all possible sources of information, but the varied (and often subtle) forms of advertising must be recognized for what they are. Physicians also need to develop skill in interpreting clinical papers and in understanding a little of the uses and meanings of statistics. Most of all, they should have sufficient self-confidence to refrain from using any new drug until scientific evidence of its efficacy and safety is available.