Doctors are often guided by pharmaceutical advertising instead of the patient
According to studies, doctors are sometimes heavily influenced by advertising and information from the pharmaceutical industry when it comes to their prescribing practices.
Not only do they then prescribe medication to patients more frequently and do not focus on individual needs, but the preparations also tend to be less favorable and more expensive. This is shown by an evaluation of 58 studies that examined the influence of manufacturer information on doctors. Only one study came to the conclusion that the influence of pharmaceutical companies improves the work of doctors.
In all studies, doctors should indicate how much attention they pay to pharmaceutical advertising. They contradict the belief often expressed by many doctors that they are not influenced by information from the pharmaceutical industry.
Doctors inundated with advertising from one manufacturer are more likely to prescribe that brand, regardless of whether it is best for the patient, explains Joel Lexchin of York University in Canada, co-author of the analysis published in the online journal "PLoS Medicine".
In all studies, doctors should indicate how much attention they pay to pharmaceutical advertising. They contradict the belief often expressed by many doctors that they are not influenced by information from the pharmaceutical industry.
Doctors inundated with advertising from one manufacturer are more likely to prescribe that brand, regardless of whether it is best for the patient, explains Joel Lexchin of York University in Canada, co-author of the analysis published in the online journal "PLoS Medicine".
