Patients' Awareness of and Attitudes toward Gifts from Pharmaceutical Companies to Physicians

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess patients' awareness of and attitudes toward physicians' receiving gifts from the pharmaceutical industry. The Alger County Community Health Study was a self-report survey targeting rural Alger County, Michigan. The survey (completion rate 10.1%) addressed issues on health, demographics, and patients' awareness of and attitudes toward gifts to physicians. Rates of awareness of gifts were: drug samples, 94 percent; ballpoint pens, 76.2 percent; medical books, 38 percent; conference/travel expenses, 34 percent; dinner out, 36.6 percent; spouse meal at dinner out, 23 percent; golf tournament fees, 19.0 percent. Rates of "approval" of physicians' accepting gifts were: drug samples, 69 percent; ballpoint pens, 54.2 percent; medical books, 49 percent; conference/travel expenses, 14 percent; dinner out, 12.1 percent; spouse meal at dinner out, 7 percent; golf tournament fees, 3.7 percent. Patients' approval of gifts seems to be related to the perceived value of the gift to patients as well as its monetary value. The patient population in the current study seems to be less approving of gifts to physicians than patients surveyed in the 1990s. Patients' opinions should be considered when establishing ethical guidelines and policies regulating physician-industry interaction.

Knowledge, Beliefs and Attitudes of Patients and the General Public towards the Interactions of Physicians with the Pharmaceutical and the Device Industry: A Systematic Review

“…[54] In another study conducted in 1994, the rate of awareness among 486 individuals attending family practice centers varied by type of gift as follows: drug samples (87%); ballpoint pens (55%); medical books (35%); dinner at a restaurant (22%); baby formula (29%); and coffee maker (14%). [52] The third study conducted in 2009 used a similar set of questions as the preceding study, with the following reported rates of awareness among 903 members of the general public: drug samples (94%); ballpoint pens (76%); medical books (38%); dinner out (37%); conference/travel expenses (34%); and golf tournament fees (19%)[59]. …”

The Impact of Disclosing Financial Ties in Research and Clinical Care

“…38 One 1995 survey considered the appropriateness of FTs by dollar amount: 9% of patients believed professional gifts should be limited to less than $25 per year, whereas 32% believed that personal gifts should be limited to less than $25 per year (PϽ .001). 35 Three studies (all were of moderate quality or higher) considered patients' views of the acceptability of FTs in research.…”

Patient views on financial relationships between surgeons and surgical device manufacturers

“…These findings are consistent with those of quantitative research examining patient views on surgeons as industry consultants 25,26 and physician-industry relationships. [27][28][29] In an effort to manage financial relationships between surgeons and device manufacturers, the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act mandated public reporting of financial relationships between physicians and pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers.…”

“…2 The financial relationships in question included consulting agreements for questionable work, contracts paying royalties without any actual transfer of intellectual property, payments for continuing medical education at exclusive resorts, expensive meals disguised as medical lectures, inappropriate gifts and even direct payments to surgeons for using specific hip or knee implants. 1 After 2 years of investigation, the DOJ filed a criminal complaint on Sept. 27,2007, against 4 of the manufacturers (Zimmer, DePuy, Biomet and Smith and Nephew) for "knowingly and wilfully combining, conspiring, confederating and agreeing with others to commit an offense against the United States by violating the Anti-Kickback Statute." 2 This statute prohibits the exchange of anything of value with the purpose of increasing reimbursement from a federal health program (e.g., Medicare).…”