Interaction between pharmaceutical companies and physicians who prescribe antiretroviral drugs for treating AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
Given that Brazil has a universal public policy for supplying medications to treat HIV and AIDS, the aim here was to describe the forms of relationship between physicians and the pharmaceutical companies that produce antiretrovirals (ARVs).


METHODS
Cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted in the state of São Paulo.


METHODS
Secondary database linkage was used, with structured interviews conducted by telephone among a sample group of 300 physicians representing 2,361 professionals who care for patients with HIV and AIDS.


RESULTS
Around two thirds (64%) of the physicians prescribing ARVs for HIV and AIDS treatment in the state of São Paulo who were interviewed declared that they had some form of relationship with pharmaceutical companies, of which the most frequent were receipt of publications (54%), visits by sales promoters (51%) and receipt of small-value objects (47%).


CONCLUSIONS
Two forms of relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and physicians who deal with HIV and AIDS can be highlighted: facilitation of professionals' access to continuing education; and antiretroviral drug brand name promotion.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Mário César
MC
Scheffer
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D001938:Brazil; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs