To Sample or Not to Sample? The Use of Pharmaceutical Industry–Supplied Medications in Medical Practice

Shaili Jain

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511665677.011

9 - To Sample or Not to Sample? The Use of Pharmaceutical Industry–Supplied Medications in Medical Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 March 2010

Shaili Jain

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Shaili Jain: Affiliation:
Aurora Medical Group, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Bob had just received a call from the clinic nurse, Pat, at the local county family practice clinic. She had requested more samples of Vivre, as the clinic supplies were running low. Bob was pleased that Vivre was being prescribed. Having a presence in the sample closets of local medical clinics was a good way of introducing the medication to prescribers. It also helped to dislodge the current antidepressant market leader from its entrenched position. In addition, MedCorp had launched a direct-to-consumer advertising campaign that was building demand among patients coming into their doctors' offices. Bob told the nurse he would stop by to drop off more samples later that afternoon.

Free medication samples are frequently used by medical clinics. The pharmaceutical industry provides free samples to physicians to promote the use of their products, with market analyses showing that sampling increases drug sales. Industry spent a total of $7.9 billion on drug sampling in the year 2000 in the United States. Despite this, issues surrounding the use of samples are often not addressed in medical training. Residents in training are often unaware of important institutional policies regarding sampling, and only 50% of one group felt that they had received adequate training on these issues in medical school. Researchers have reported that among trainees who use samples for their patients, poor prescribing habits often result.

Type: Chapter
Information: Understanding Physician-Pharmaceutical Industry Interactions
A Concise Guide
, pp. 45 - 51

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511665677.011 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2007

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9 - To Sample or Not to Sample? The Use of Pharmaceutical Industry–Supplied Medications in Medical Practice

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