Industry Influence on The Practice of Medicine

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This module describes how the pharmaceutical industry uses social psychology to influence therapeutic choices of healthcare providers. This eye-opening module discusses detailing (drug rep visits), key opinion leaders, subtle marketing messages in industry-funded education, and why medication samples are a marketing tool.

Target Audience

This activity is intended for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this module, the learner should be able to:

  • Identify several techniques used in pharmaceutical marketing.
  • Recognize the obligation created by accepting small gifts or meals.
  • Discuss the purpose of samples from industry’s point of view.
  • Discuss two persuasive techniques documented in social psychology.
  • Implement two actions to minimize the effect of industry promotion on prescribing practices.

Disclaimer 

The material presented in this continuing medical education program is being made available for educational purposes and does not reflect the official views or policies of the DC Department of Health unless explicitly stated.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacist
    The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy technician
    The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 1.00 Completion
Course opens: 
09/15/2020
Course expires: 
09/15/2023

Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD

Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology and Department of Family Medicine 
Georgetown University Medical Center
 
Bio
Dr. Fugh-Berman teaches courses on medicinal plants and evidence-based medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center. She directs PharmedOut, a GUMC project that advances evidence-based prescribing. Her research focuses on pharmaceutical marketing practices and the culture of medicine.

The presenters for this course have declared no conflicts of interest

Kofi Onumah, PharmD, RPh

Pharmacist Inspector, Pharmaceutical Control Division 
Director, The DC Center for Rational Prescribing 
District of Columbia Department of Health
 
Bio
Dr. Onumah serves as a Pharmacist Inspector with the District of Columbia Department of Health. He also directs the DC Center for Rational Prescribing (DCRx). Dr. Onumah has practiced pharmacy in the pharmacy benefit management industry, as well as the community and long-term care setting. He has a genuine passion for evidence-based value add interventions that improve healthcare outcomes. Dr. Onumah also helped implement the District of Columbia Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.
 
The presenters for this course have declared no conflicts of interest

Anthony Scialli, MD

Adjunct Professor, Pharmacology and Physiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Clinical Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
 
Bio
Dr. Scialli is a specialist in reproductive and developmental toxicology and in obstetrics and gynecology. He directs the Reproductive Toxicology Center, a non-profit foundation in Washington, DC, which maintains Reprotox®, an online database on the effects on reproduction of drugs, chemicals, biologicals, and physical agents. Dr. Scialli founded and was editor-in-chief of the journal Reproductive Toxicology for 17 years and is a past president of the Teratology Society. Dr. Scialli is a paid expert witness in litigation regarding pharmaceutical products.
 
The presenters for this course have declared no conflicts of interest

Susan F. Wood, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management
Director, Jacobs Institute of Women's Health 
The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health
 
Bio
Dr. Wood's work at GW and public advocacy focuses on the use of scientific knowledge in public policy. She previously was Assistant Commissioner for Women's Health at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and directed the FDA Office of Women's Health from 2000 - 2005 when she resigned on principle over continued delay of approval of emergency contraception over the counter. Prior to the FDA, Dr. Wood was the Director of Policy and Program Development at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health. From 1990 - 1995, Dr. Wood worked on Capitol Hill as professional staff for the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues. Initially as Science Advisor and later as Deputy Director to the Caucus, Dr. Wood helped develop and promote the Women's Health Equity Act.
 

Faculty Disclosures

 
In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s Standards for Commercial Support, The George Washington University Office of CEHP requires that all individuals involved in the development of activity content disclose their relevant financial relationships and that all conflicts of interest be identified, resolved, and communicated to learners prior to delivery of the activity.
 
The following planners, upon submission of a disclosure form, made no disclosures of commercial relationships:
 
  • Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD* (planner who resolved financial disclosures)
  • Kofi Onumah, PharmD, RPh
  • Anthony Scialli, MD†
  • Susan F. Wood, PhD
 
*Dr. Fugh-Berman discloses that she is a paid expert witness at the request of plaintiffs in litigation regarding pharmaceutical marketing practices. She is also a subcontractor to George Washington School of Public Health.
 
† Anthony Scialli, MD is the sole member of Scialli Consulting, a firm that provides consulting services on reproductive toxicology. He also is a non-CE consultant for GlaxoSmithKline.

 

Accreditation for Physicians 

The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA Physician Recognition Award Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACY TECHNICIANS 

The George Washington University Hospital, Department of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
 
ACPE#: 0536-9999-20-009-H04-P
ACPE#: 0536-9999-20-009-H04-T
Release Date: September 15, 2020
Expiration Date: September 15, 2023
CE Credits: 1.0 (0.10 CEUs)

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacist
    The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy technician
    The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 1.00 Completion
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