Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26606971›Full record

SynthesisBMC research notes2015

Validity of tools used for surveying physicians about their interactions with pharmaceutical company: a systematic review.

Tamara Lotfi, Rami Z Morsi, Nada Zmeter, Mohammad W Godah, Lina Alkhaled, Lara A Kahale, Hala Nass, Hneine Brax, Racha Fadlallah, Elie A Akl

Abstract readValidation StudySystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC research notes, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Tamara LotfiDepartment of Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. tamara_loutfi@hotmail.com.
Rami Z MorsiDepartment of Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. ramimorsi93@gmail.com.
Nada ZmeterDepartment of Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. nadazmeter@gmail.com.
Mohammad W GodahDepartment of Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. mwg06@mail.aub.edu.
Lina AlkhaledDepartment of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. lina.alkhaled@hotmail.com.
Lara A KahaleDepartment of Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. lara.kahale@gmail.com.
Hala NassFaculty of Medicine, University of Damascus, Damascus, Syria. hala.al.nass@gmail.com.
Hneine BraxFaculty of Medicine, Université Saint Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon. ninabrax@hotmail.com.
Racha FadlallahFaculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. rsf07@mail.aub.edu.
Elie A AklDepartment of Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. ea32@aub.edu.lb.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is evidence that physicians' prescription behavior is negatively affected by the extent of their interactions with pharmaceutical companies. In order to develop and implement policies and interventions for better management of interactions, we need to understand physicians' perspectives on this issue. Surveys addressing physicians' interactions with pharmaceutical companies need to use validated tools to ensure the validity of their findings.

objectiveTo assess the validity of tools used in surveys of physicians about the extent and nature of their interactions with pharmaceutical companies, and about their knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards such interactions; and to identify those tools that have been formally validated.

methodsWe developed a search strategy with the assistance of a medical librarian. We electronically searched MEDLINE and EMBASE databases in September 2015. Teams of two reviewers conducted data selection and data abstraction. They identified eligible studies in one table and then abstracted the relevant data from the studies with validated tools in another table. Tables were piloted and standardized.

resultsWe identified one validated questionnaire out of the 11 assessing the nature and extent of the interaction, and three validated questionnaires out of the 47 assessing knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of physicians toward the interaction. None of these validated questionnaires were used in more than one survey.

conclusionThe available supporting evidence of the issue of physicians' interaction with pharmaceutical company is of low quality. There is a need for research to develop and validate tools to survey physicians about their interactions with pharmaceutical companies.

Indexed as

Interprofessional RelationsSurveys and QuestionnairesAttitude of Health PersonnelData CollectionDrug IndustryHumansPhysiciansPractice Patterns, Physicians'Reproducibility of Results

Identifiers

PMID26606971
PMCPMC4660663

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.