Table 3 Perception of medical doctors (MDs) on ethical promotion of pharmaceuticals
Questions on perception about ethical promotion | Medical doctors (MDs), n = 51 (5-point Likert score) | p values | |
|---|---|---|---|
NCs (mean ± SD) | MNCs (Mean ± SD) | ||
Provides products of high quality, safety, efficacy according to the standards framed by regulatory authorities | 3.61 ± 1.16 | 4.35 ± 0.68 | 0.0001* |
Follows ethical guidelines for promoting and marketing of their products | 1.92 ± 0.75 | 4.43 ± 0.61 | 0.0001** |
Provides accurate, balanced and scientifically valid data on products | 1.98 ± 0.64 | 4.41 ± 0.61 | 0.0001** |
Provide information and scientific data with valid reference | 2.29 ± 0.67 | 4.41 ± 0.61 | 0.0001** |
Organize events for medical doctors outside Pakistan other than international congress | 4.1 ± 0.71 | 1.88 ± 0.86 | 0.0001** |
Finance social or entertainment activities for medical doctors in international congress | 4.19 ± 0.63 | 1.65 ± 0.72 | 0.0001** |
Always mark the samples with “Not for sale” tag | 3.58 ± 1.25 | 1.61 ± 0.70 | 0.0001** |
Pay cost of individuals accompanying medical doctors on conferences | 4.3 ± 0.58 | 1.67 ± 0.47 | 0.0001** |
Offers payments in cash or cash equivalents to medical doctors | 4.35 ± 0.48 | 4.18 ± 0.79 | 0.567 |
Fulfils medical doctor’s request for any facilitation or gifts | 4.35 ± 0.62 | 1.96 ± 0.51 | 0.0001** |
More emphasis on doctor-company sales contracts rather than doctor-patient suitability as per the needs of the patients | 4.27 ± 0.66 | 2.06 ± 0.9 | 0.0001** |
More focused on selling tactics rather than product usage in right indication | 4.29 ± 0.67 | 1.67 ± 0.49 | 0.0001** |
Always looking for doctors who prefer to write company products at the expense of certain benefits | 4.35 ± 0.77 | 2.05 ± 0.33 | 0.0001** |