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Pharmaceutical industry interactions in family medicine residencies decreased between 2008 and 2013: a CERA study
Steven R Brown1, David V Evans, Adriane Fugh-Berman
1Banner Good Samaritan Family Medicine Residency and Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona-Phoenix.
Background And Objectives:
Most medical residents have some interaction with the pharmaceutical industry. It is not known if this interaction has changed over time. We determined whether interactions between family medicine residencies and the pharmaceutical industry have changed in the past 5 years.
Methods:
We surveyed program directors of US family medicine residencies with questions addressing industry-sponsored gifts, drug samples, access of industry representatives to trainees, and industry-sponsored residency activities. The questions were part of a larger 2013 survey administered by the Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance (CERA). The authors compared results from 2008 and 2013.
Results:
The response rate to the 2013 CERA program director survey was 56% (251/445); 47% (208/445) of surveyed directors viewed and answered all survey questions. Between 2008 and 2013, residency programs that accept no gifts or industry-sponsored food increased from 48% (137/286) to 73% (151/208). Residencies refusing samples increased from 52% (148/286) to 78% (166/212), and residencies that do not allow industry representatives to have access to learners increased from 43% (124/286) to 74% (157/212). Residency programs that forbade industry-sponsored activities remained stable (67% versus 73%). About half (49%) (101/208)) of programs in 2013 qualified as "pharma-free," compared to 26% (75/286) in 2008.
Conclusions:
In 2013, one of two family medicine residencies disallow gifts, drug samples, interactions between residents and pharmaceutical sales representatives, and pharmaceutical industry-sponsored activities. This proportion is twice what was observed in 2008. Restrictions increased in all categories except industry-sponsored activities.
Insights
Family medicine residencies increasingly restricted pharmaceutical industry interactions. Between 2008 and 2013, "pharma-free" programs doubled, with more residencies refusing gifts, samples, and sales representative access.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Pharmaceutical Industry Interactions
- Family Medicine
Background:
- Most medical residents engage with the pharmaceutical industry.
- The evolution of these interactions over time is not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine changes in interactions between family medicine residencies and the pharmaceutical industry over a 5-year period.
Main Methods:
- A survey of US family medicine residency program directors was conducted in 2013.
- The survey addressed industry-sponsored gifts, drug samples, access for industry representatives, and sponsored activities.
- Results were compared to a similar 2008 survey.
Main Results:
- Residency programs accepting no gifts or industry-sponsored food increased from 48% in 2008 to 73% in 2013.
- Programs refusing drug samples rose from 52% to 78%, and those restricting industry representative access increased from 43% to 74%.
- The proportion of "pharma-free" programs doubled from 26% in 2008 to 49% in 2013.
Conclusions:
- Family medicine residencies significantly increased restrictions on pharmaceutical industry interactions between 2008 and 2013.
- These changes reflect a growing trend towards limiting industry influence in medical education.
- Restrictions notably increased for gifts, samples, and representative access, while industry-sponsored activities remained stable.
