Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3946

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

Harvey K.
What influences prescribing—scientific articles or promotional pressure?
Medical Journal of Australia 1989; 150:282-283

Abstract:

Although the incidence of serious side effects associated with co-trimoxazole is small, the drug is widely used and the incidence of adverse effects appears to be age related. The difference between recommended and actual prescribing of the product could be explained by pharmaceutical promotion which appeared to deliberately ignore and obscure this scientific debate. Despite the fact that the Australian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association has concerns about the promotion of this product by Roche and Wellcome, it has not applied any effective sanctions.

Keywords:
*letter to the editor/Australia/co-trimoxazole/Burroughs Wellcome/Hoffman LaRoche/quality of information/quality of prescribing/ Australian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association/ regulation of promotion/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION