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The Effect of Medication Samples on Self-Reported Prescribing Practices: A Statewide, Cross-Sectional Survey

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Abstract

Background

The pharmaceutical industry spends billions of dollars annually to encourage clinicians to prescribe their medications. Small studies have demonstrated that one of the marketing strategies, the distribution of free sample medications, is associated with increased use of brand name medication over generic medication.

Objectives

To determine the relationship between the presence of drug samples in primary care clinics and prescription of preferred drug treatments.

Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Participants

Primary care prescribers in the state of Vermont.

Main Measurement

Prescribers were presented with two clinical vignettes and asked to provide the name of the medication they would prescribe in each case. We compared the responses of prescribers with and without samples in their clinics.

Key Results

Two hundred six prescribers out of the total population of 631 returned the survey and met the eligibility criteria. Seventy-two percent of prescribers had sample closets in their clinics. Seventy percent of clinicians with samples would prescribe a thiazide diuretic for hypertension compared to 91% in those without samples (P < 0.01). For managing depression 91% of prescribers with samples would have provided a generic medication in a patient with no health insurance, compared to 100% of those without samples in their clinic (P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Clinicians with samples in their clinics were less likely to prescribe preferred medications for hypertension and depression.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded by the Freeman Medical Scholars Program, The Champlain Valley Area Health Education Center, and the Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Grant Program

Conflicts of interest

None disclosed.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Richard G. Pinckney MD, MPH.

Additional information

This project was funded by the Freeman Medical Scholars Program, The Champlain Valley Area Health Education Center, and the Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Grant Program

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Pinckney, R.G., Helminski, A.S., Kennedy, A.G. et al. The Effect of Medication Samples on Self-Reported Prescribing Practices: A Statewide, Cross-Sectional Survey. J GEN INTERN MED 26, 40–44 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-010-1483-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-010-1483-x

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