Attitudes and behaviours of physicians towards the relationship with the pharmaceutical industry in Saudi Arabia

The relationship and interactions between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry can affect patient care. A physician's practice can be influenced by this relationship. It is believed that these interactions are common among doctors in Saudi Arabia. This study was undertaken to assess the frequency of such relationships and physicians' attitudes and behaviours toward them. This was a cross-sectional questionnaire survey completed by practicing physicians at four Saudi government and private tertiary care centres in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire addressed the frequency of meetings with representatives of pharmaceutical companies (PRs) and of receiving gifts and considered the physicians' attitudes and behaviours towards PRs. A total of 300 completed questionnaires were obtained. Among the physicians surveyed, 223 (74.3%) met PRs one to three times per month. Up to 191 (64%) of physicians admitted receiving gifts. More than two thirds of physicians-192 (63%) have been invited to activities sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. Among the physicians, 239 (80%) agreed that PRs use promotional techniques in their approach and 251 (84%) of them stressed the need for expert physicians to attend presentations by PRs to correct the facts. The frequent meetings between physicians and PRs and the use of promotional techniques by PRs are concerning. Future studies should assess the impact of this involvement on medical practice and drugs prescription in Saudi Arabia.