Pharmaceutical company influences on medication prescribing and their potential impact on quality use of medicines.
BACKGROUND
Pharmaceuticals are big business, reporting strong market growth year after year. The 'gatekeepers' of this market are prescribers of medicines, who are the major target of pharmaceutical companies, utilizing direct and indirect influences.


METHODS
This paper draws on previous research investigating pharmaceutical company prescribing influences to develop a qualitative model demonstrating the synergism between commercial influences on prescribing. The generic model was used to explore a realistic but hypothetical scenario to ascertain the applicability of the model.


CONCLUSIONS
A generic influence model was developed. The model was readily able to be adapted to reflect a realistic practice scenario.


CONCLUSIONS
Prescriber awareness of the linkages between various seemingly separate marketing techniques could potentially improve medicines usage in an evidence-based practice paradigm.
School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia. g.kyle1@uq.edu.au
G J
GJ
Kyle
L M
LM
Nissen
S E
SE
Tett
D000329:Advertising / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009520:New Zealand; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States
D055553:Prescription Drugs