title: Physicians' attitudes towards interaction with the pharmaceutical industry.
abstract: The relationship between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry has ethical implications for patient care. This study examined knowledge and attitudes towards the pharmaceutical industry, and associations with actual behaviour, among physicians working in Saudi Arabia. In a cross-sectional study in 2012, a 100-point score was created from 17 5-point Likert-scale questions to assess knowledge and attitudes. The overall score of 659 participants was 63.1 (SD 8.5), with a majority holding a generally positive attitude. Higher (i.e. better) scores were significantly associated with a lack of interactions with the pharmaceutical industry and with refusal of gifts but not with education about ethics. In multivariate analysis, refusing gifts, additional income and Saudi nationality remained independently associated with higher scores. Overall, there was suboptimal knowledge and a generally positive attitude towards the pharmaceutical industry among the sample of physicians in Saudi Arabia.
authors: King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: F D
authors: FD
authors: Alosaimi
authors: Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Al Kaabba
authors: King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Qadi
authors: King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Albahlal
authors: King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Alabdulkarim
authors: King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Alabduljabbar
authors: King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Alqahtani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004345:Drug Industry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations / Q000941:ethics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000941:ethics; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult