Fadare Joseph O, Oshikoya Kazeem A, Ogunleye Olayinka O, Desalu Olufemi O, Ferrario Alessandra, Enwere Okezie O, Adeoti Adekunle, Sunmonu Taofiki A, Massele Amos, Baker Amanj, Godman Brian
a Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics , Ekiti State University , Ado-Ekiti , Nigeria.
b Department of Pharmacology , Therapeutics and Toxicology, Lagos State University College of Medicine , Lagos , Nigeria.
Hosp Pract (1995). 2018 Apr;46(2):77-87. doi: 10.1080/21548331.2018.1437319. Epub 2018 Feb 20.
Pharmaceutical companies spend significant amount of resources on promotion influencing the prescribing behavior of physicians. Drug promotion can negatively impact on rational prescribing, which may adversely affect the quality of patient care. However, little is known about these activities in Nigeria as the most populous country in Africa. We therefore aimed to explore the nature of encounters between Nigerian physicians and pharmaceutical sales representatives (PSRs), and how these encounters influence prescribing habits.
Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study conducted among practicing physicians working in tertiary hospitals in four regions of Nigeria.
176 questionnaires were completed. 154 respondents (87.5%) had medicines promoted to them in the previous three months, with most encounters taking place in outpatients' clinics (60.2%), clinical meetings (46%) and new medicine launches (17.6%). Information about potential adverse effects and drug interactions was provided in 41.5%, and 27.3% of cases, respectively. Food, in the form of lunch or dinner, was the most common form of incentive (70.5%) given to physicians during promotional activities. 61% of physicians felt motivated to prescribe the drug promoted to them, with the quality of information provided being the driving factor. Most physicians (64.8%) would agree to some form of regulation of the relationship between medical doctors and the pharmaceutical industry.
Interaction between PSRs and physicians is a regular occurrence in Nigeria, influencing prescribing practices. Meals and cheap gifts were the most common items offered to physicians during their encounters with PSRs. The need for some form of regulation by professional organizations and the government was expressed by most respondents to address current concerns.
制药公司投入大量资源进行促销活动，以影响医生的处方行为。药品促销可能会对合理用药产生负面影响，进而可能对患者护理质量产生不利影响。然而，在非洲人口最多的国家尼日利亚，人们对这些活动知之甚少。因此，我们旨在探讨尼日利亚医生与药品销售代表（PSR）之间接触的性质，以及这些接触如何影响处方习惯。
在尼日利亚四个地区的三级医院工作的执业医生中开展基于问卷调查的横断面研究。
共完成176份问卷。154名受访者（87.5%）在过去三个月中接触过向他们促销的药品，大多数接触发生在门诊诊所（60.2%）、临床会议（46%）和新药发布活动（17.6%）中。分别有41.5%和27.3%的案例提供了有关潜在不良反应和药物相互作用的信息。在促销活动期间，以午餐或晚餐形式提供的食物是给予医生的最常见激励形式（70.5%）。61%的医生表示有动力处方向他们促销的药品，所提供信息的质量是驱动因素。大多数医生（64.8%）会同意对医生与制药行业之间的关系进行某种形式的监管。
在尼日利亚，PSR与医生之间的互动经常发生，影响着处方行为。在与PSR接触期间，餐食和廉价礼品是提供给医生的最常见物品。大多数受访者表示需要专业组织和政府进行某种形式的监管，以解决当前的问题。
