Drug advertisements published in Indian Medical Journals: Are they ethical?

Charan, Jaykaran; Yadav, Preeti; Saxena, Deepak; Kantharia, ND

doi:10.4103/0975-7406.84449

Cited by 14 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…These findings are in line with few similar studies conducted in a tertiary care hospital. 8,10,12,[18][19][20] Another striking finding is that the essential information regarding adverse effects contraindications, drug interactions were reported to be present in only one tenth of the drug promotional literature in our study. This indicates that the companies are less focussing on providing essential information regarding the safety of the patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Critical appraisal of drug promotional literature using World Health Organisation guidelines

Gautam¹,

Chugh²,

Sah³

et al. 2017

Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol

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Background: Pharmaceutical marketing using drug promotional literatures is an important strategy adopted by the companies to promote their drugs. The primary objective of the present study is to compare the drug promotional literature of different pharmaceutical companies on the basis of World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on ethical drug promotion.Methods: This observational, cross sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital, Delhi. The promotional literature was evaluated in accordance with WHO guidelines, nature of claims, pictorial content presented in it and for the cited references.Results: A total of 208 promotional brochures were analysed. Only few (5.8%) of the promotional literature fulfilled all the criteria as mentioned by the guidelines. Nutritional supplements (27.9%) were the most promoted group of drugs. Pharmaceutical companies were most reluctant to provide information regarding contraindications (9.6%), adjuvants (11.5), side effects (10.6%) and drug interactions (9.6%). Generic name, brand name, dosage form, therapeutic indications were outlined in most of the brochures. Exaggerated emotional claims were made in 47.1% brochures, followed by that of efficacy in 39.4% and safety in 25% of brochures. Pictures of medicinal products outnumbered others with 39.9% followed by pictures of women, children and doctors with 20.7%, 17.3% and 13.5% respectively.Conclusions: Majority of the drug promotional literature did not comply with the ethical guidelines and was inadequate in terms of their adequacy, quality and reliability. Hence, it can be concluded that the majority of the promotional advertisements that are given to the prescribers are not able to spread awareness towards rational prescribing.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Critical appraisal of drug promotional literature using World Health Organisation guidelines

Gautam¹,

Chugh²,

Sah³

et al. 2017

Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol

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“…The document is still used by regulators, governments, and academics as a yardstick for measuring the acceptability of promotional activities 5678. The criteria have also been incorporated into curriculums for educating health professionals about drug marketing tactics 9.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethical drug marketing criteria for the 21st century

Parker

Williams

Bero

2018

BMJ

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“…The 'drug promotion brochures' form a major source of information regarding newer drugs in such a scenario and influence the prescribing behavior of the prescribers. [2][3][4][5] World Health Organization (WHO) defines drug promotion as "all informational and persuasive activities by manufacturers and distributors, the effect of which is to induce the prescription supply, purchase, and use of medicinal drugs". To regulate the information quality, WHO has framed certain guidelines under 'Ethical criteria of medicinal drug promotion' and encourages use of these guidelines for advertisements and promotions through consistent, truthful and right means.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7 Some studies have claimed the drug advertisements to be unethical despite all the regulatory efforts. 5,8,9 'Direct to physician' marketing may influence the prescribing practices. It is the responsibility of a physician to follow ethical prescribing practices as well as critically evaluate the claims made in the drug promotional literature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A critical evaluation of information in drug promotional brochures for validity as per WHO criteria

Singh

Randhawa

Kashyap

et al. 2017

Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol

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Background: Promotion of drugs through publication of promotional literature is a standard practice of pharmaceutical companies. This study is aimed at critically analyzing the drug promotional brochures.Methods: Observational study was conducted in Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College Amritsar according to WHO guidelines. 100 brochures of different pharmaceutical companies were collected at random from various OPDs of a tertiary care hospital.Results: Only 14 % of total brochures demonstrated overall adherence to WHO guidelines. Safety information was lacking in 88%. Irrelevant pictures were found in 66% brochures while relevant illustrated information was included in only 23 % of brochures. Out of total illustrations found relevant (n=44), 45.5% did not quote any reference, and results didn’t match with original study in 11.4%.Conclusions: Our study points towards big lacuna in drug promotional brochures, an important source of drug information. Low percentage of adherence to the guidelines in the study reflects commercial interest of pharmaceutical companies and lack of will to correctly disseminate the drug related information.

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Drug advertisements published in Indian Medical Journals: Are they ethical?

Cited by 14 publications

References 12 publications

Critical appraisal of drug promotional literature using World Health Organisation guidelines

Critical appraisal of drug promotional literature using World Health Organisation guidelines

Ethical drug marketing criteria for the 21st century

A critical evaluation of information in drug promotional brochures for validity as per WHO criteria

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