Quality assessment of the visits of pharmaceutical company representatives to hospital pharmacists.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether the quality of pharmaceutical company representatives' (PCRs) visits to hospital pharmacists can be improved by written communication of the results of an evaluation of their visits. METHODS Pilot study with prospective evaluation of overall visit quality and strength of request for adding drugs to the hospital formulary, and of the scientific quality of products presentations using a standardized form. Two one-year study periods (59 vs. 61 visits) separated by the intervention (global results of the first period sent to each drug company). RESULTS No difference was observed between both periods in overall visit quality (VAS 0 = null, 10 = excellent: mean 4.7 (2.1 SD) vs. 5.2 (2.1) or strength of request for adding drug to hospital formulary (VAS 0 = null, 10 = extreme: 7.0 [2.6] vs. 7.2 [2.7]). Clarity and scientific value of products' presentations and scientific value of responses were better during the second study period, as a sign of quality improvement. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that systematic quality evaluation of PCRs visits and communication of results to drug companies may improve the scientific quality of products' presentation.