Biased information |
‘I’d listen but I’d be somewhat sceptical about the claims, obviously they’re telling you about all the good trials.’ (P12) |
‘I try to have a filter so that I’m aware of the bias in their presentation and the materials.’ (P1) |
Controlling discourse |
‘I’ll give you an arbitrary example, let’s imagine a supplement for vitamin D, they[pharmaceutical company] might bring a consultant to talk to GPs about the importance of vitamin D supplementation, and of course the company sponsoring the meeting is also providing a vitamin D supplement. Now it would never be so overt as the consultant saying you should prescribe that company’s vitamin D supplement but[…] that is obviously an attempt to sell a product.’ (P17) |
‘Opinion leaders are of course important but unfortunately I think a lot of opinion leaders are in the pockets of pharma. You know CME events should not be sponsored by pharmaceutical companies but they are.’ (P4) |
Gifts and contributions |
‘We are absolutely struggling as a new practice, like we do not have an AED at the moment and I had to look around and one might cost €1500 but if I saw a pharmaceutical representative, and I continued to see them, I could definitely ask them to pay for it and they would. And it is so attractive because ultimately it makes you more money as a GP, and I am losing out financially because I am not doing that.’ (P7) |
‘In my experience it’s been pens, yeah cakes and sandwiches the odd time, the majority of the time it’s pens.’ (P3) |