E-DRUG: Drug promotion and monitoring reps in France
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Dear E-druggers,
Since 1991, an anonymous network of general practitioners and
a small number of hospital pharmacists, all readers of the
independent French bulletin la revue Prescrire has been
monitoring the behaviour of medical representatives (reps).
The network has been looking at the accuracy of the claims and
type of information provided. After each visit of a rep, members
of the network fill in a standard report form, noting if the
information given orally on indications and dose regimen of the
drug differ from the official data sheet. They also report
whether the rep spontaneously mention side effects, contra-
indications and interactions, as well as the arguments used to
encourage prescribing (including gifts and paid participation
in clinical trials)? An assessment of the results from
1991-February 1997 showed that overall, drugs'indications were
extended or changed in about 27% of the visits, and dosages
were not in line with data sheets in 15%. More seriously, side
effects contraindications and interactions were not mentioned
in 76% of the visits. Qualitative evaluation showed that
off-licence "information" was based on premature claims,
analogies with other drugs, or pure promotional fantasy.
For those of you who would like to receive English-language
copies of the forms used by the network, please contact
Ellen 't Hoen at Prescrire: ethoen@compuserve.com
Christophe Kopp (christophe.kopp@wanadoo.fr)
Editor of Prescrire International
BP 459, 75527 Paris cedex 11, France
Note from the moderator:
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Earlier results of this French study was published in the
Lancet and also the World Health Organization's Essential
Drug Monitor. E-druggers, please cite references where
available. Thanks.
Syed Rizwanuddin Ahmad
Email: srahmad@essential.org
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