title: Pharmaceutical industry interactions in family medicine residencies decreased between 2008 and 2013: a CERA study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Most medical residents have some interaction with the pharmaceutical industry. It is not known if this interaction has changed over time. We determined whether interactions between family medicine residencies and the pharmaceutical industry have changed in the past 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed program directors of US family medicine residencies with questions addressing industry-sponsored gifts, drug samples, access of industry representatives to trainees, and industry-sponsored residency activities. The questions were part of a larger 2013 survey administered by the Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance (CERA). The authors compared results from 2008 and 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate to the 2013 CERA program director survey was 56% (251/445); 47% (208/445) of surveyed directors viewed and answered all survey questions. Between 2008 and 2013, residency programs that accept no gifts or industry-sponsored food increased from 48% (137/286) to 73% (151/208). Residencies refusing samples increased from 52% (148/286) to 78% (166/212), and residencies that do not allow industry representatives to have access to learners increased from 43% (124/286) to 74% (157/212). Residency programs that forbade industry-sponsored activities remained stable (67% versus 73%). About half (49%) (101/208)) of programs in 2013 qualified as "pharma-free," compared to 26% (75/286) in 2008.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In 2013, one of two family medicine residencies disallow gifts, drug samples, interactions between residents and pharmaceutical sales representatives, and pharmaceutical industry-sponsored activities. This proportion is twice what was observed in 2008. Restrictions increased in all categories except industry-sponsored activities.
authors: Banner Good Samaritan Family Medicine Residency and Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona-Phoenix.
authors: Steven R
authors: SR
authors: Brown
authors: David V
authors: DV
authors: Evans
authors: Adriane
authors: A
authors: Fugh-Berman
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D037921:Gift Giving; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D062407:Meals; D016134:Organizational Policy; D013997:Time Factors