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Most physicians have industry ties, survey says

Device Regulation Alert: Safety, Compliance and Reimbursement News, April 30, 2007

A large majority--94%--of physicians reported some type of relationship with device, pharmaceutical, and related industries, according to a national survey published in the April 26 New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). However, the relationships vary by setting and specialty, suggesting the need for guidelines and recommendations specific to each, according to the authors.

The researchers surveyed physicians in six specialties: anesthesiology, cardiology, family practice, general surgery, internal medicine, and pediatrics. The survey showed that 83% of respondents receive food in the workplace from the industry, 78% receive drug samples, 35% are reimbursed for professional meeting or continuing medical education costs, and 28% get payments for consulting, lecturing, or enrolling patients in trials.

The research also showed that cardiologists were more than twice as likely as family practitioners to receive payments, and family practitioners met most frequently with industry representatives. Physicians in single, two-person, or group practices were more likely to have industry relationships than physicians in hospitals or clinics.

The authors point to factors such as physician influence over peers, prescribing freedom and patterns, and accessibility to industry reps as factors that contribute to the varying relationships. They conclude that the industry may need to develop guidelines that are specific to each practice setting and specialty. To read the entire NEJM article for free, go to the journal's Web site.

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