Healthy Skepticism Library item: 18872

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Sillup GP, Trombetta B, Klimberg R.
The 2002 PhRMA Code and Pharmaceutical Marketing: Did Anybody Bother to Ask the Reps?
Health Mark Q 2010 Oct; 27:(4):388-404
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21058100

Abstract:

After marketing tactics resulted in $1.2 billion fines, the 2002 PhRMA Code attempted to standardize marketing and sales practices. Self-regulation had varied success by other industries and by pharmaceutical industries in other countries. Similarly, the Code addressed negative responses about pharmaceutical’s practices but had no provisions for monitoring violations. Representative’s (reps) perspectives were assessed using an 18-item instrument with 72 reps from 25 companies. Analyses indicated that reps from bigger companies, PhRMA and non-PhRMA, adhered better. The way reps adhered was split between adhering reluctantly and following faithfully. Two thirds felt it was more difficult to do their jobs, resulting from prior entertainment-based relationships with physicians.