Bell R W, Osterman J W
Int J Health Serv. 1983;13(1):107-18. doi: 10.2190/RMQL-RQ29-WGHK-7V5J.
The Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties (CPS) is the most widely used source of drug information in Canada, and is heavily financed by the pharmaceutical industry. A close examination of its contents comparing a computer-drawn, randomized sample of monographs from its "White Pages" to standard pharmacological reference works demonstrates certain of its characteristics: it uncritically includes many inadequate preparations; it overstates the benefits and understates the adverse qualities of many preparations; and it contains little or no information on relative indications, efficacy, or price. These characteristics serve to promote the marketing goals of the drug manufacturers and severely limit the volume's usefulness as an objective source of drug information. The role of the CPS and similar publications in the overall context of current drug company marketing strategies is discussed. Finally, suggestions for improvements are made involving the elimination of direct manufacturer financing, and the creation of an objective, independent, nonprofit publishing agency supported by professional and governmental organizations.
《药品及特殊用品汇编》（CPS）是加拿大使用最广泛的药物信息来源，且由制药行业提供大量资金支持。对其内容进行仔细研究，将从其“白页”中通过计算机随机抽取的专论样本与标准药理学参考著作进行比较，可发现它具有某些特点：它不加批判地收录了许多不合格的制剂；它夸大了许多制剂的益处，而淡化了其不良性质；并且它几乎没有或根本没有关于相对适应症、疗效或价格的信息。这些特点有助于推动药品制造商的营销目标，严重限制了该汇编作为客观药物信息来源的实用性。本文讨论了CPS及类似出版物在当前药品公司营销策略整体背景下的作用。最后，提出了改进建议，包括消除制造商的直接资金支持，以及创建一个由专业组织和政府组织支持的客观、独立的非营利性出版机构。
