Dtsch Arztebl Int
-
The recommendations in clinical guidelines are based on clinical trial findings and expert opinion. The influence of drug companies on these two factors is illustrated with two examples. ⋯ Public access to all trial data must be ensured so that independent evaluations are possible. We take the view that the responsibility for creating guidelines should be borne by authors and organizations that do not have any conflicts of interest.
-
Multicenter Study
Medical students' attitudes to and contact with the pharmaceutical industry: a survey at eight German university hospitals.
Drug companies maintain close contact with physicians. We studied the extent to which medical students are already in contact with drug companies, and their attitudes toward them. ⋯ Medical students have extensive contact with the pharmaceutical industry even before they are out of medical school. Therefore, the medical school curriculum should include information about the strategies drug companies use to influence physicians' prescribing behavior, so that medical students can develop an appropriately critical attitude.