The effect of medication samples on self-reported prescribing practices: a statewide, cross-sectional survey.
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.


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


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Primary care prescribers in the state of Vermont.


METHODS
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.


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.
Pinckney
Richard G
RG
The Office of Primary Care, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA. Richard.pinckney@uvm.edu
Helminski
A Shams
AS
Kennedy
Amanda G
AG
Maclean
Charles D
CD
Hurowitz
Laurie
L
Cote
Elizabeth
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000191:economics*; D057566:Self Report; D014707:Vermont
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