A national survey on the effect of pharmaceutical promotion on medical students

The pharmaceutical industry affects physicians' clinical decision-making, especially their prescribing behaviour. However, little is known of the interactions between medical students and the pharmaceutical industry. The purpose of the present study was to examine the extent and perceived influence of pharmaceutical promotion on Finnish medical students and students' attitudes towards such promotion. Altogether 952 students (34%) responded to an anonymous questionnaire that was distributed to all Finnish medical students at varying levels of study. Students reported that they attended presentations by pharmaceutical company representatives on a frequent basis. A total of 44% attended at least twice a month. Students regarded the pharmaceutical industry as one of their most important sources of pharmaceutical information. The importance attached to pharmaceutical promotion as a source of pharmaceutical information and the intensity of pharmaceutical marketing increased over the course of medical studies. Although most students were not in favour of reducing promotion, the students largely believed that such activities would affect their future prescribing behaviour, and the awareness of this influence increased over the course of studies. The fact that medical students are commonly exposed to pharmaceutical promotion should be addressed in medical education.