ETHICAL ISSUES IN DRUG PRESCRIBING PRACTICES IN ROMANIA. OPINIONS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL REPRESENTATIVES
Keywords:
ethics, pharmaceutical representative, drug prescription, physicianAbstract
The study aims at identifying the opinion of pharmaceutical representatives about drug prescribing practices by physicians in Romania. Material and methods: a number of 70 pharmaceutical representatives working with different pharmaceutical companies in Romania answered a questionnaire concerning drug prescribing practices by physicians. Variables like age, medical/nonmedical education, and work experience or work environment were taken into consideration. Data were processed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 for Windows. Results: 95% of the subjects appreciate that physicians use their experience with a particular drug when they prescribing it. A total of 67% of pharmaceutical representatives think that physicians cover the costs of activities related to their continuing education and training by sponsorships offered by the pharmaceutical companies. 66% of the participants claim that the physician’s relationship with the medical representative is important when prescribing drugs. Conclusion: the pharmaceutical representatives are considering that drug prescribing practices by physicians are influenced by several factors, related to health policies or personal criteria, including the relationship between the physician and the pharmaceutical representative.
Probleme etice în practicile prescrierii medicamentelor în România. Opinii ale reprezentanților farmaceutici. Studiul are ca scop identificarea opiniilor reprezentanților farmaceutici cu privire la practicile prescrierii medicamentelor de către medici în România. Material și metodă: un număr de 70 de reprezentanți farmaceutici care lucrează la diferite companii farmaceutice din România au răspuns la un chestionar privind practicile de prescriere a medicamentelor de către medici. Variabilele ca vârstă, sex, educație medical/non-medicală, experiența de lucru sau mediul de lucru au fost luate în considerație. Datele culese au fost prelucrate cu Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) versiunea 17.0 pentru Windows. Rezultate: 95% dintre subiecți apreciază că medicii își folosesc experiența cu un anumit medicament atunci când îl prescriu. Un număr de 67% dintre reprezentanții farmaceutici consideră că medicii își acoperă costurile activităților legate de educația medicală continuă și training prin sponsorizări oferite de către companiile farmaceutice. 66% dintre participanți apreciază că relațiile medicilor cu reprezentanții medicali sunt importante atunci când prescriu medicamente. Concluzii: Reprezentanții farmaceutici consideră că practicile de prescriere a medicamentelor de către medici sunt influențate de mai mulți factori legați de politicile de sănătate sau criterii personale, inclusiv relațiile dintre medici și reprezentanții farmaceutici.
Cuvinte-cheie: etică, reprezentant farmaceutic, prescrierea de medicamente, medic
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