A study of promotional advertisements of drugs in a medical journal: an ethics perspective.
The study assessed 54 advertisements of 145 different drugs, published over one year (from December 2011 to November 2012) in an Indian medical journal, circulated widely mainly among general practitioners (GPs). The ethical guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) for medicinal drug promotion were applied. The brand name was mentioned in all advertisements (100% compliance both with the WHO and OPPI criteria) and the names of the active ingredients were also mentioned in 128 (90.14%) advertisements. However, major adverse drug reactions were mentioned in only two advertisements (1.37%); precautions, contraindications and warnings in only two (1.37%); and major interactions in only one (0.68%). Only three advertisements (2.06%) were well substantiated with references. To ensure the ethical promotionof drugs among GPs, journals must introduce compulsory review and appraisal of promotional advertisements by a dedicated review board, including at least one member trained in pharmacology and one representative from the medical division of a pharmaceutical company.
2nd Year PGT; Department of Pharmacology, MGM Medical College and LSK Hospital, Kishanganj, Bihar 855107.
Sarmila
S
Nath
Assistant Professor; Department of Pharmacology, Flat No. 4, Prathama Apartments, 41/2 PGH Shah Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032 India.
Subhrojyoti
S
Bhowmick
2nd Year PGT; Department of Pharmacology, MGM Medical College and LSK Hospital, Kishanganj, Bihar 855107 India.
Trayambak
T
Dutta
Assistant Professor; Department of Pharmacology, MGM Medical College and LSK Hospital, Kishanganj, Bihar 855107 Indiaa.
V R
VR
Chowrasia
Professor and Head; Department of Pharmacology, MGM Medical College and LSK Hospital, Kishanganj, Bihar 855107 India.
Shipra
S
Bhattacharya
Professor; Department of Pharmacology, MGM Medical College and LSK Hospital, Kishanganj, Bihar 855107 India.
R N
RN
Chatterjee
Professor; Department of Pharmacology, MGM Medical College and LSK Hospital, Kishanganj, Bihar 855107 India.
Manjula
M
Sarkar
Professor Emeritus; Department of Pharmacology, MGM Medical College and LSK Hospital, Kishanganj, Bihar 855107 India.
A K
AK
Ram
Professor Emeritus; Department of Pharmacology, MGM Medical College and LSK Hospital, Kishanganj, Bihar 855107 India.
P K
PK
Mukherjee
D000329:Advertising / Q000941:ethics*; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000941:ethics*; D026724:Ethical Review; D040861:Ethics, Business; D058006:General Practice; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000941:ethics*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011643:Publishing
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations