Observing expert opinion of medical affairs pharmaceutical physicians on the value of their clinical experience to the pharmaceutical industry using the Jandhyala method

Abstract

Background The pharmaceutical industry requires a highly qualified workforce with diverse skillsets. Medical affairs pharmaceutical physicians (MAPPs) have unique qualifications among pharmaceutical company employees, but the exact contribution of their education and training is unknown. This study aimed to identify the medical education and training competencies MAPPs use in the pharmaceutical industry in relation to the four external stakeholders, regulators, payors, prescribers, and patients. Method Ten MAPPs were recruited using convenience sampling via professional networks. A systematic literature review and the Jandhyala method, a two-stage qualitative online consensus method, identified which of MAPPs’ medical education and training competencies they used in their work with each external stakeholder. Statistical analyses determined heterogeneity in the relevance of competencies and competency categories to each stakeholder. Results Nine MAPPs completed the study. Of the 59 competencies identified, 54 were relevant to all external stakeholders. Relevance of competencies varied significantly between external stakeholders (p = .0434). Binary competency scores varied significantly for three pairs of stakeholders, “patient vs. payor” (p = .025), “prescriber vs. regulator” (p = .013) and “prescriber vs. payor” (p = .008). Between-stakeholder overall frequency count varied significantly for two of the nine competency categories. Conclusion MAPPs develop a highly specialized set of competencies during medical education and training from which they use distinct subsets to meet the needs of external stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry. Undergraduate and postgraduate competency-based medical education appears to prepare MAPPs for cognitive and technical work. Further exploration may aid understanding of how they develop soft skills.