Structured approach to pharmaceutical representatives. Family medicine residency program.

PROBLEM BEING ADDRESSED: Family medicine residents frequently interact with pharmaceutical sales representatives (PSRs) during their medical training; the literature indicates that these meetings affect future prescribing habits. We needed to develop a structured approach to PSR visits because our program did not provide residents with a consistent experience in dealing with PSRs. OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM: To develop a structured approach to PSR visits that would permit residents to better understand the role of PSRs and to gain more from their interactions with PSRs in the future. MAIN COMPONENTS OF PROGRAM: First-year family medicine residents at an academic teaching unit in Edmonton were surveyed on their knowledge and attitude to PSRs and then given a 1-hour educational seminar and five structured visits from PSRs. Following each PSR presentation, residents completed an evaluation form and discussed the interaction with their preceptors.
CONCLUSIONS: We believe that a structured educational program is better than a written policy restricting interactions between PSRs and residents for providing residents with an understanding of the role of PSRs and making them better prepared for future contact.