Pharmaceutical Industry
Physicians Chime in on Best Sources for Pharmaceutical Information
SDI’s recently released “Pharmaceutical Company Image 2010” report shows findings regarding physicians’ most trusted sources for obtaining pharma information. Results were taken from a survey of nearly 8,000 physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other decision makers. With medical conferences and journals ranking in the highest percentile, sales reps ranking in the middle percentile, and pharma-sponsored material and ads ranking lowest; SDI Syndicated Analytics Associate Director Jason Fox commented, “Physicians trust more the sources that are non-company-sponsored.”
The Top Five Sources that Physicians Think Provide the Most Useful Information about Pharma Products
| Source | % of Physician Respondents |
| Medical conferences/symposia/group meetings (sponsored by medical organizations) | 74% |
| Articles in medical journals | 73% |
| Medical reference books (e.g., PDR, Facts & Comparisons) | 47% |
| Other healthcare practitioners (doctors, NPs, PAs) | 46% |
| Sales reps | 43% |
| Medical conferences/symposia/group meetings (sponsored by pharmaceutical companies) | 42% |
| Internet | 34% |
| Material from pharmaceutical companies | 33% |
| Ads in medical journals | 23% |
| Pharmacists | 20% |
| Direct-to-consumer advertising | 9% |
| Patients | 9% |
| News Media | 6% |
| Other | 2% |
Source: SDI’s “Pharmaceutical Company Image 2010,” MM&M, June 2010
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