Norwegian medical students’ attitudes towards the pharmaceutical industry

Abstract

Norwegian medical students are opinionated, critical and curious with respect to pharmaceutical industry relations. This interest can be explored and probably also modified by educational initiatives.

Visits by pharmaceutical representatives in general practice as observed by fifth-year medical students

“…A study conducted among Norwegian fifth-year and sixth-year medical students in Norway and in Hungary/Poland in 2008-09 showed that 74 % of them had had varying degrees of contact (meeting or conversation with a representative) with the pharmaceutical industry (13). The students in Poland and Hungary had actually had the least contact with the pharmaceutical industry.…”

“…Six out of ten Norwegian medical students reported having a positive or neutral relationship with the pharmaceutical industry (13). The remainder stated that they were critical to having connections with the industry, and the authors have discussed whether this could be related to the national decision in 2005 for 'the teaching in the medical degree programme to be organised without the financial or practical involvement of private companies or industry' (15).…”

“…The remainder stated that they were critical to having connections with the industry, and the authors have discussed whether this could be related to the national decision in 2005 for 'the teaching in the medical degree programme to be organised without the financial or practical involvement of private companies or industry' (15). The pharmaceutical industry also no longer has the opportunity to arrange meetings with medical students at Norwegian universities (13).…”

German medical students´ exposure and attitudes toward pharmaceutical promotion: A cross-sectional survey

“…Frequency of exposure to pharmaceutical promotion increases with each additional academic year [2], [4], [5]. In the final clinical year up to 90 percent of medical students reported indirect or direct contact to pharmaceutical promotion or sales representatives as well as participating in sponsored events [2], [3].…”

“…In the final clinical year up to 90 percent of medical students reported indirect or direct contact to pharmaceutical promotion or sales representatives as well as participating in sponsored events [2], [3]. Accepting small gifts, free meals and educational material sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry is considered to be normal, appropriate and ethically unobjectionable by most students [2], [3], [4], [6]. Frequent exposure of medical students to pharmaceutical promotion was associated with a general positive attitude toward the pharmaceutical industry [4], [7] and confidence in dealing with pharmaceutical marketing strategies [4].…”