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July 9, 1997, Vol 278, No. 2 >
ARTICLE | July 9, 1997

Personal Use of Drug Samples by Physicians and Office Staff FREE

John M. Westfall, MD, MPH; Jennifer McCabe; Richard A. Nicholas, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Reprints: John M. Westfall, MD, MPH, Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 1180 Clermont St, Denver, CO 80220 (email: westfalj@centaur.uhcolorado.edu).


JAMA. 1997;278(2):141-143. doi:10.1001/jama.1997.03550020073041
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References

Context.  —Pharmaceutical samples are commonly used in ambulatory care settings. There is limited research on their use or impact on health care providers and patients.

Objective.  —To determine the extent of personal use of drug samples over a 1-year period by physicians and medical office staff.

Design, Subjects, and Setting.  —An anonymous cross-sectional survey of all physicians, resident physicians, nursing staff, and office staff in a family practice residency.

Main Outcome Measure.  —Quantity of drug samples taken for personal or family use.

Results.  —Of 55 surveys issued, 53 (96%) were returned. A total of 230 separate drug samples were reported taken in amounts ranging from 1 dose to greater than 1 month's supply. Two respondents reported no use of drug samples, while 4 respondents reported taking more than 10 different samples.

Conclusion.  —Drug samples are commonly taken by physicians and office staff for personal and family use. The ethical implications of this practice warrant further discussion.

REFERENCES

1 +
Wilkes MS.  Pitching doctors . New York Times Magazine . (November 5) ,1989;:89-90, 127,129.
2 +
Drake D, Uhlman M. Making Medicine, Making Money . Kansas City, Mo: Andrews & McMeel; 1993;: 27.
3 +
Brotzman GL, Mark DH.  Policies regulating the activities of pharmaceutical representatives in residency programs . J Fam Pract . 1992;;34:54-57.
4 +
Newton W, Goldstein A, Frey J.  There is no such thing as a free lunch: developing policies on pharmaceutical industry support . J Fam Pract . 1992;;34:32-34.
5 +
Mainous AG, Hueston WJ, Rich EC.  Patient perceptions of physician acceptance of gifts from the pharmaceutical industry . Arch Fam Med . 1995;;4:335-339
6 +
Chren MM, Landefeld, CS.  Physicians' behavior and their interaction with drug companies . JAMA . 1994;;271:684-689.
7 +
Squires BP.  Physicians and pharmaceutical industry . Can Med Assoc J . 1993;;149:1391-1392.
8 +
Lexchin J.  Interactions between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry: what does the literature say? Can Med Assoc J . 1993;;149:1401-1407.
9 +
Ostergaard DJ.  Relationships between family physicians and the pharmaceutical industry . J Fam Pract . 1992;;34:29-31.
10 +
Shaughnessy AF.  Promotional materials in patient-care areas . JAMA . 1988;;260:926.
11 +
McKinney WP, Schiedermayer DL, Lurie N, Simpson DE, Goodman JL, Rich EC.  Attitudes of internal medicine faculty and residents toward professional interaction with pharmaceutical sales representatives . JAMA . 1990;;264:1693-1697.
12 +
Chren MM, Landefeld CS, Murray TH.  Doctors, drug companies, and gifts . JAMA . 1989;;262:3448-3451.
13 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association.  Gifts to physicians from industry . JAMA . 1991;;265:501.
14 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association. Code of Medical Ethics: Current Opinions With Annotations . Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1994;:110-114.
15 +
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Standards for Commercial Support of Continuing Medical Education . Chicago, Ill: Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education; 1992;.
16 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association.  Guidelines on gifts to physicians from industry: an update . Food Drug Law J . 1992;;47:445-458.
17 +
Tong KL, Lien CY.  Do pharmaceutical representatives misuse their drug samples? Can Fam Physician . 1995;;41:1363-1366.
18 +
Morelli D, Koeningsberg MR.  Sample medication dispensing in a residency practice . J Fam Pract . 1992;;34:42-48.

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

1 +
Wilkes MS.  Pitching doctors . New York Times Magazine . (November 5) ,1989;:89-90, 127,129.
2 +
Drake D, Uhlman M. Making Medicine, Making Money . Kansas City, Mo: Andrews & McMeel; 1993;: 27.
3 +
Brotzman GL, Mark DH.  Policies regulating the activities of pharmaceutical representatives in residency programs . J Fam Pract . 1992;;34:54-57.
4 +
Newton W, Goldstein A, Frey J.  There is no such thing as a free lunch: developing policies on pharmaceutical industry support . J Fam Pract . 1992;;34:32-34.
5 +
Mainous AG, Hueston WJ, Rich EC.  Patient perceptions of physician acceptance of gifts from the pharmaceutical industry . Arch Fam Med . 1995;;4:335-339
6 +
Chren MM, Landefeld, CS.  Physicians' behavior and their interaction with drug companies . JAMA . 1994;;271:684-689.
7 +
Squires BP.  Physicians and pharmaceutical industry . Can Med Assoc J . 1993;;149:1391-1392.
8 +
Lexchin J.  Interactions between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry: what does the literature say? Can Med Assoc J . 1993;;149:1401-1407.
9 +
Ostergaard DJ.  Relationships between family physicians and the pharmaceutical industry . J Fam Pract . 1992;;34:29-31.
10 +
Shaughnessy AF.  Promotional materials in patient-care areas . JAMA . 1988;;260:926.
11 +
McKinney WP, Schiedermayer DL, Lurie N, Simpson DE, Goodman JL, Rich EC.  Attitudes of internal medicine faculty and residents toward professional interaction with pharmaceutical sales representatives . JAMA . 1990;;264:1693-1697.
12 +
Chren MM, Landefeld CS, Murray TH.  Doctors, drug companies, and gifts . JAMA . 1989;;262:3448-3451.
13 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association.  Gifts to physicians from industry . JAMA . 1991;;265:501.
14 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association. Code of Medical Ethics: Current Opinions With Annotations . Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1994;:110-114.
15 +
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Standards for Commercial Support of Continuing Medical Education . Chicago, Ill: Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education; 1992;.
16 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association.  Guidelines on gifts to physicians from industry: an update . Food Drug Law J . 1992;;47:445-458.
17 +
Tong KL, Lien CY.  Do pharmaceutical representatives misuse their drug samples? Can Fam Physician . 1995;;41:1363-1366.
18 +
Morelli D, Koeningsberg MR.  Sample medication dispensing in a residency practice . J Fam Pract . 1992;;34:42-48.

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