Effect of Educational Interventions and Medical School Policies on Medical Studentsʼ Attitudes Toward Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices: A Multi-Institutional Study

Abstract

Education about pharmaceutical marketing practices and more restrictive policies governing medicine-industry interactions seem to increase medical students' skepticism about the appropriateness of such marketing practices and disapproval of pharmaceutical representatives in the learning environment.

Questionable content of an industry-supported medical school lecture series: a case study

“…Medical students25 26 and physicians24 27 are unlikely to believe that their views are biased by their interactions with the pharmaceutical industry, but there is evidence that educational interventions are effective at changing this view 28 29. Trainees might be more likely to recognise problematic content if they had a taxonomy for describing the spectrum of such content from a selective presentation of correct information to falsehoods.…”

“…Trainees might be more likely to recognise problematic content if they had a taxonomy for describing the spectrum of such content from a selective presentation of correct information to falsehoods. Both didactic and role playing educational sessions can alert medical students to the effects of marketing on clinical decision-making 29 30. For example, an educational session for second- and third-year medical students comprising a session with a former pharmaceutical representative, a faculty debate and online modules increased scepticism about the appropriateness of pharmaceutical company involvement in teaching 29.…”

“…Both didactic and role playing educational sessions can alert medical students to the effects of marketing on clinical decision-making 29 30. For example, an educational session for second- and third-year medical students comprising a session with a former pharmaceutical representative, a faculty debate and online modules increased scepticism about the appropriateness of pharmaceutical company involvement in teaching 29. Such educational sessions can be part of a broader effort to educate trainees about the financial implications of clinical decision-making,31 which may include the subtle implications of gift acceptance32–34 and the price patients pay for direct physician marketing such as the distribution of ‘free’ textbooks 35…”

Physicians' attitudes towards interaction with the pharmaceutical industry

“…This may indicate the importance of good knowledge and correct attitudes about interactions with the pharmaceutical industry. It has been shown that education and discussion about the ethical issues related to exposure to pharmaceutical representatives can improve the attitudes of residents and medical students towards interactions (22)(23)(24)(25). Interestingly, knowledge and attitudes about interactions with the pharmaceutical industry in the current study was not significantly associated with having received ethics education.…”

Medical Schools' Industry Interaction Policies Not Associated With Trainees' Self-Reported Behavior as Residents: Results of a National Survey

“…1,2 To varying degrees, these interactions may create a sense of obligation to use promoted products, reducing evidence-based prescribing, with physicians not always aware of the influence of biased information. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Previous studies [12][13][14][15][16] have suggested varying effects on prescribing behavior and attitudes toward the pharmaceutical industry among medical students and residents. Many medical schools have implemented policies for faculty to disclose industry relationships and have banned certain types of interactions (eg, speakers' bureaus).…”