Abstract

EVALUATION OF DRUG PROMOTIONAL LITERATURES (DPLS) AS PER WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) CRITERIA

Pradnya Deolekar*, Pramila Yadav, Sandesh Deolekar and Prathmesh S. Deolekar

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess drug promotional literatures (DPLs) as per World Health Organization, (WHO) criteria and make an objective assessment (claims, references and pictures) about their opinion on current drug promotional methods. Method: It was an observational, cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital for period of 2 months. Printed drug promotional literatures for modern drugs were collected as per selection criteria and analysed. Results: 250 DPLs were collected in which 300 drugs, 58% were single drug formulation and 42% FDCs. Out of 300 claims, most commonly presented claim in 138 DPLs was efficacy (46%) followed by pharmaceutical properties (25%). 130 (65%) DPLs did not provide any references to support claims while only 100 (44.44%) DPLs provided references. Most commonly used reference was journal articles 88 (88%) followed by websites 8 (8%). Most common source of journal article reference was research article 73.92 (84%) followed by review article 10.56 (12%). 136.8 (76%) DPLs presented with irrelevant pictures while only 32.4 (18%) DPLs presented appropriate pictures. Information on adverse drug reactions, contraindications and drug interactions was missing in 11% of DPLs. Conclusion: None of the promotional literatures contained all of the information as per WHO guidelines for medicinal drug promotion. They were lacking with scientific and critical information.

Keywords: WHO guidelines, Drug Promotional Literature.