Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3312

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

Teplitsky B.
A 30-year trend: what chief pharmacists think about detailers.
Pharm Times 1985 Nov; 51:(11):83-92

Abstract:

Detailers perform a needed service for hospital pharmacists, but problems exist. Each fifth year for the past 30 years, Pharmacy Times has surveyed 400 chief pharmacists about detailers. This report summarises the seven surveys. Detailers were authorized to visit approximately 98% of hospital pharmacies in all surveys. There have been increasing restrictions on the day/time they may visit. Mental hospitals had least restrictions. Approximately 96% of pharmacists in all surveys felt that detailers provided a service. Pharmacists increasing felt that detailers took up too much of their time (from 16% in 1955 to 37% in 1985), and that they tied up their staff (from 13% to 47%). Approximately 80% in all surveys favored detailers holding drug exhibits in their hospitals. 0 in 1985 reported assisting detailers to contact physicians, the lowest since 1955. Some reported doing so only for good products. In 1985, 30% actively assist detailers in introducing new drugs in their hospitals, compared with 25% in 1980. in 1985, 77% reported that detailers needed special permission to visit physicians on wards. Overall statistics indicate a 30-year trend toward more restrictions on this. Some pharmacists reported detailers ignoring rules forbidding this.

Keywords:
*longitudinal study/United States/ Data Collection Drug Industry* Humans Interprofessional Relations Pharmacy Service, Hospital/trends* United States