Objective: To determine whether family medicine residency training programs have formal policies regarding interactions between residents and the pharmaceutical industry, to identify existing practices, and to find out what issues in industry-physician interaction are addressed during the 2-year core curriculum training in Canada.
Design: Mailed survey using a questionnaire.
Setting: The 16 Canadian residency training programs in family medicine.
Participants: Program directors of all 16 Canadian family medicine residency training programs replied.
Main outcome measures: Number of programs with formal pharmaceutical policies; number of programs offering formal curriculum coverage of related topics in the field; program practices regarding industry sampling, detailing, sponsorship, and access.
Results: Only four of the 16 programs have formal policies or guidelines. Topics generally covered in core curriculum included critical appraisal (13/16) and cost trends (11/16). Few programs address determinants of prescribing (5/16), marketing techniques (4/16), provincial drug access programs (6/16), or the Canadian Medical Association guidelines on physician-industry interaction (5/16). Industry presence and sponsorship in family medicine training is notable, and screening is limited. Great variation exists, and programs are interested in future initiatives.
Conclusions: Family medicine training in Canada is attempting to address pharmaceutical issues. Interest is strong, but these issues need to be given more emphasis.