Interactions between pharmaceutical representatives and doctors in training. A thematic review

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pharmaceutical Industry Interactions
• Prescribing Behavior

Background:

• Medical school and residency are critical periods for developing prescribing habits.
• Understanding the extent and impact of pharmaceutical industry contact with trainees is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review literature on pharmaceutical industry contact with medical trainees.
• To assess attitudes towards these interactions and their effect on prescribing.
• To identify intervention points for policy and education.

Main Methods:

• MEDLINE database search (1966-2004) for English language articles.
• Inclusion of original articles on medical training and pharmaceutical industry.
• Exclusion of editorials, guidelines, and policy recommendations.

Main Results:

• Pharmaceutical representative contact is frequent among residents.
• Most trainees perceive interactions as appropriate, but acknowledge potential influence on prescribing.
• Resident prescribing is linked to industry representative visits and drug samples.
• Interventions show some effect on attitudes, but long-term data is limited; training is insufficient.

Conclusions:

• The pharmaceutical industry significantly engages with residents, gaining acceptance and influencing prescribing.
• Training programs should implement policies and curricula addressing industry influence.
• Residents need education on critically evaluating industry-provided information.