The assessment of pharmaceutical sales representatives by family physicians-does it affect the prescribing index?

Abstract

Background: Physicians' prescribing patterns depend on fixed and influence-sensitive factors. The latter include the influence of interactions with the pharmaceutical industry. Objective: To determine whether the assessment of pharmaceutical sales representatives (PSRs) by family physicians was associated with their actual prescribing index. Methods: Cross-sectional anonymous postal study. We included all family physicians working in practice settings in Slovenia in 2011. Settings: Slovenian family physicians' surgeries. Main outcome measure: Prescribing index of Slovenian family physicians. Results: We received 247 responses (27.6% response rate). A prescribing index >100% was present in 57 (23.1%) of the respondents. Multivariate analysis revealed that working in regions of Slovenia other than the central region might be associated with a prescribing index >100%. Assessment of PSRs by family physicians was not significantly associated with a prescribing index >100%. Conclusion: The assessment of PSRs by family physicians does not have any substantial correlations with their prescribing index. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.