Hall Kristine B, Tett Susan E, Nissen Lisa M
School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
Med Care. 2006 Apr;44(4):383-7. doi: 10.1097/01.mlr.0000204017.71426.53.
The provision of free prescription medicine samples is a common and traditional marketing strategy used by pharmaceutical companies, but concerns have been raised about their influence on physician prescribing behavior and patient safety.
We sought to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Australian family physicians regarding the use of sample prescription medications.
Qualitative and quantitative techniques were used, including (1) mailed questionnaires to family physicians, (2) semistructured interviews with family physicians, and (3) sample cupboard inventories.
A number of issues about samples were identified by the questionnaires (208) and interviews (17 doctors), including insufficient labeling, poor record keeping, diversion of stock (personal use by doctors, their families, practice staff and pharmaceutical representatives), and wasting of expired stock. Prescription medicine samples also influenced prescribing behavior. Australian doctors were less likely to provide samples to patients on financial grounds compared with a previous study in the United States on medical residents. Six sample cupboards were inventoried. Median wholesale value of sample cupboards was AUD Dollars 4959 (range Dollars 2395-Dollars 8709), with 6% of stock expired. Very little generic medicine was included in the sample cupboards.
Better methods are needed to meet legislative requirements and to ensure quality use of medicines (and optimal public health) with respect to prescription medicine samples. Doctors and practice staff require training on the appropriate handling and storage of prescription medications. Alternative ways for distribution of sample medications need to be investigated.
提供免费处方药样品是制药公司常用的传统营销策略，但人们对其对医生处方行为和患者安全的影响表示担忧。
我们旨在调查澳大利亚家庭医生对使用样品处方药的知识、态度和行为。
采用定性和定量技术，包括（1）向家庭医生邮寄问卷，（2）对家庭医生进行半结构化访谈，以及（3）样品柜库存盘点。
通过问卷（208份）和访谈（17名医生）发现了一些关于样品的问题，包括标签不足、记录保存不善、库存挪用（医生、其家人、诊所工作人员和药品代表个人使用）以及过期库存的浪费。处方药样品也影响了处方行为。与之前美国一项针对住院医生的研究相比，澳大利亚医生因经济原因向患者提供样品的可能性较小。对六个样品柜进行了库存盘点。样品柜的批发价值中位数为4959澳元（范围为2395澳元至8709澳元），6%的库存已过期。样品柜中几乎没有包含通用药品。
需要更好的方法来满足立法要求，并确保在处方药样品方面合理用药（以及实现最佳公共卫生）。医生和诊所工作人员需要接受关于处方药适当处理和储存的培训。需要研究分发样品药物的替代方法。
