Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8371

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

Robinson B.
Pharmacists see need for controls on Rx sampling
Drug Topics 1985 Jul 15; 129:12-14

Abstract:

A survey conducted by Drug Topics on what 1500 pharmacists think about physician sampling of free prescription drugs is presented. The survey pulled a 17% response rate from community pharmacists and a 24% return from hospital practitioners. It was shown that pharmacists do not really object to sampling as a marketing device in initiating a prescription or as a way of testing out the medicine to see if it produces any unexpected side effects that would make a full course of therapy unacceptable. According to the survey a majority of pharmacists have seen an increase in physician sampling. About 54% said their practice has expanded a great deal. Pharmacists also reported a negative impact on prescription business, although 46% acknowledged that the effect was slight. The survey indicated that general practitioners were seen as more likely to sample than physicians in other specialties. Antiarthritics were rated the drug class most often dispensed in this manner. Other top sampling products include antibiotics, topical dermatologicals, cough/cold medicines and analgesics.