Interactions of staff and residents with pharmaceutical industry: a survey of psychiatric training program policies.
OBJECTIVE
In response to perceived controversies regarding interactions between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry, we undertook a study to look at the relationship between Canadian psychiatry training programs and the pharmaceutical industry.


METHODS
The authors distributed a survey to the residency program directors and chief residents of the 16 psychiatry training programs in Canada.


RESULTS
Of respondents, 75 per cent were either unaware of or noted an absence of policies or guidelines regarding interactions with the pharmaceutical industry in their training programs; 70 per cent viewed staff psychiatrists and residents to be at least 50 per cent familiar with the Canadian Medical Association's policy summary; and 74 per cent were unaware of any structural teaching regarding potential conflicts of interest between psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry. A significant number of respondents perceived occasional excessive influence by the pharmaceutical industry on residents' training.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite concerns about potential conflicts of interest, there are a few guidelines in most psychiatry training programs in Canada regarding the relationship between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry.
Chakrabarti
A
A
Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Canada.
Fleisher
W P
WP
Staley
D
D
Calhoun
L
L
D002170:Canada; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003625:Data Collection; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000941:ethics* / Q000592:standards*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010820:Physicians / Q000941:ethics; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education* / Q000941:ethics; D012955:Societies, Medical