title: Perceived advantages and disadvantages of using drug samples in a university hospital center: a case study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The distribution of drug samples is both permitted and a common practice in Canada and the US. The impact of this strategy on healthcare workers' opinions and habits is a reason for concern.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the perceived advantages and disadvantages of using drug samples in a university hospital center.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, descriptive case study was conducted in a 500-bed university hospital center between October 18 and November 1, 2007. To obtain feedback from the healthcare staff, our research team, which was made up of a physician, pharmacy resident, 2 pharmacists, and a student in health administration, designed a 26-question survey using a Likert scale (fully agree, partially agree, partially disagree, totally disagree, do not know). The questions focused on 8 different variables (rapid treatment initiation, free cost and availability, practicality of use, patient risk, pharmacist's role, impact on choice of treatment, storage and stock management, risk of pilfering).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 39 physicians, 18 medical residents, 17 medical clerks, 83 nurses, and 23 pharmacists working in various healthcare units and outpatient clinics (N = 180) agreed to take part in the survey and fill out the questionnaire. Generally speaking, there was a high degree of variation among the professional groups in their levels of agreement with the statements on the questionnaire. For example, 71% of the nurses, 43% of the physicians, 71% of the medical residents, and 36% of the medical clerks believed that drug samples encouraged treatment adherence, whereas only 17% of the pharmacists were of this opinion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that the perceived advantages and risks of using drug samples vary by healthcare provider group and in terms of exposure or nonexposure to their use. Concerned professionals must be provided with this information and strict measures must be instituted to ensure patient security.
authors.affiliation: CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Lyne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tardif
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bussières
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lebel
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soucy
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations