Drug promotional activities in Nigeria: Impact on the prescribing patterns and practices of medical practitioners and the implications
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Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Hospital practice
Abstract
Objective: Pharmaceutical companies spend significant amount of resources on promotion influencing the
prescribing behaviour of physicians. Drug promotion can negatively impact on rational prescribing, which
may adversley affect the quality of patient care. However, little is know 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. Methodology: Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study conducted among
practicing physicians working in tertiary hospitals in four regions of Nigeria. Results: 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 quality of information provided being the
driving factor. Most physicians (64.8%) would agree to some form of regulation of this relationship
between medical doctors and the pharmaceutical industry. Conclusion: 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.
Description
Keywords
Drug promotion, Nigeria, Pharmaceutical companies
Citation
Fadare, J.O., Oshikoya, K.A., Ogunleye, O.O., Desalu, O.O., Ferrario, A., Enwere, O.O., Adeoti, A., Sunmonu, T.A., Massele, A., Baker, A. and Godman, B., 2018. Drug promotional activities in Nigeria: impact on the prescribing patterns and practices of medical practitioners and the implications. Hospital practice, 46(2), pp.77-87.