Pharmaceutical Industry Employees Research Articles

"Caught in Each Other's Traps": Factors Perpetuating Incentive-Linked Prescribing Deals Between Physicians and the Pharmaceutical Industry.

Despite known adverse impacts on patients and health systems, "incentive-linked prescribing," which describes the prescribing of medicines that result in personal benefits for the prescriber, remains a widespread and hidden impediment to quality of healthcare. We investigated factors perpetuating incentive-linked prescribing among primary care physicians in for-profit practices (referred to as private doctors - PDs), using Pakistan as a case study. Our mixed-methods study synthesised insights from a survey of 419 systematically sampled PDs and 68 semi-structured interviews with PDs (n=28), pharmaceutical sales representatives (SRs) (n=12), and provincial and national policy actors (n=28). For the survey, we built a verified database of all registered PDs within Karachi, Pakistan's most populous city, administered an electronic questionnaire in-person and descriptively analysed the data. Semi-structured interviews incorporated a vignette-based exercise and data was analysed using an interpretive approach. Our survey showed that 90% of PDs met pharmaceutical SRs weekly. Three interlinked factors perpetuating incentive-linked prescribing we identified were: gaps in understanding of conflicts of interest and loss of values among doctors; financial pressures on doctors operating in a (largely) privately financed health-system, exacerbated by competition with unqualified healthcare providers; and aggressive incentivisation by pharmaceutical companies, linked to low political will to regulate an over-saturated pharmaceutical market. Regular interactions between pharmaceutical companies and PDs are normalised in our study setting. Progress on regulating these is hindered by the substantial role of incentive-linked prescribing in the financial success of physicians and pharmaceutical industry employees. A first step towards addressing the entrenchment of incentive-linked prescribing may be to reduce opposition to restrictions on incentivisation of physicians from stakeholders within the pharmaceutical industry, physicians themselves, and policy-makers concerned about curtailing growth of the pharmaceutical industry.

Supply chain partnership and sustainable performance: does TQM mediate the relationship?

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to assess the effect of supply chain (SC) partnerships on sustainable performance (SP) and investigate the potential mediating role of total quality management (TQM).Design/methodology/approachA total of 185 responses were collected from pharmaceutical industry employees. The research data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling approach.FindingsThe results reveal that relationships with suppliers (RS), distributors (RD) and intermediaries (RI) have a direct impact on SP. In addition, this study found that TQM serves as a mediator between RS, RD, RI and SP. This study enhances the understanding of the significance of TQM, SC and SP in business environment development. The findings suggest that organizations in the Jordanian pharmaceutical industry should prioritize the enhancement of their RS, intermediaries and distributors to improve their SP.Originality/valueBy providing decision-makers with valuable information, this study enables them to identify and implement TQM and SC practices to enhance the SP of pharmaceutical companies in Jordan.

Effect of industrial policies on business attraction

Industrial policies in Africa have been characterized with the problem of government. Government has various tools to influence the market, government creates rules and frameworks in which businesses compete against each other from time to time, the government will now change these rules and framework forcing businesses to change the way they operate. Due to these reasons, the objectives of the study were to examine the influence of industrial estate on venture creation, to determine the impact of policy implementation on firm’s production capacity, thirdly, to investigate the effect of public health policy on business growth. The ex-post facto method was employed. The population consists of the employees of pharmaceutical industry in Lagos, Nigeria. Slovin Sample size determination formula was adopted to determine the sample size. The data was analyzed using manual and electronic based methods through the data preparation grid and statistical package for the social sciences, (SPSS). Linear regression and ANOVA method was employed. The study found out that Industrial estate has a positive influence on venture creation such that industrial estate affected venture creation. Findings from hypothesis two shows a positive relationship between policy implementation and firm production capacity. The result of hypothesis three revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between public health policy and business growth. Thus, the study recommends that government should continue to play their regulatory role in the promotion of industrial policies in the country and also business organizations should also obey and implement public health policies.

Public Health Needs the Public Trust: A Pandemic Retrospective

The COVID crisis of the past three years has greatly impacted stakeholder relationships between scientists, health providers, policy makers, pharmaceutical industry employees, and the public. Lockdowns and restrictions of civil liberties strained an already fraught relationship between the public and policy makers, with scientists also seen as complicit in providing the justification for the abrogation of civil liberties. This was compounded by the suppression of open debate over contentious topics of public interest and a violation of core bioethical principles embodied in the Nuremberg Code. Overall, the policies chosen during the pandemic have had a corrosive impact on public trust, which is observable in surveys and consumer behaviour. While a loss of trust is difficult to remedy, the antidotes are accountability and transparency. This narrative review presents an overview of key issues that have motivated public distrust during the pandemic and ends with suggested remedies. Scientific norms and accountability must be restored in order to rebuild the vital relationship between scientists and the public they serve.

Digital Competence as a Necessary Component of the Professional Competence of Pharmaceutical Industry Employees

Digital Competence as a Necessary Component of the Professional Competence of Pharmaceutical Industry Employees

Iklim Psikologis sebagai Prediktor Kesejahteraan Psikologis pada Karyawan Industri Farmasi di Jabodetabek

Psychological Climate as a Predictor of Psychological Well-Being for Pharmaceutical Industry Employees in Jabodetabek This study aims to analyze the relationship between psychological climate and psychological well-being of pharmaceutical industry employees in the Greater Jakarta area. Psychological well-being is defined as a state where employees of the pharmaceutical industry do not experience anxiety, anxiety, depression, and various other psychological disorders. This research was conducted using a quantitative correlational study with 176 respondents, using the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PSWBS) to measure psychological well-being and the Psychological Climate Scale (PCS) to measure psychological climate. Data analysis was performed using simple regression analysis to test the hypothesis. The results of the study found that there was a positive relationship between psychological climate and psychological well-being of pharmaceutical industry employees. With the influence of a psychological climate of 4.00% on psychological well-being, younger employees tend to have higher psychological well-being than older employees.

Vectors of sustainable development of the pharmaceutical industry

The article refects the specific aspects and main problems of functioning of Russian business structures in the pharmaceutical industry, identifies potential solutions within the framework of the pyramid of sustainable development. The author proposed three main vectors of sustainable development of business structures in the pharmaceutical industry: social, environmental, and financial and economic. The author assessed the social and environmental impact using sociological surveys of pharmaceutical industry employees. The financial and economic vector of sustainable development is characterized using financial and economic indicators. The article offers the author’s model-a pyramid of sustainable development of business structures in the pharmaceutical industry.

Impact of quality management system on company performance - attitudes of Bulgarian pharmaceutical industry employees

Introduction : Establishment of a Quality Management System (QMS) is a regulatory requirement in the pharmaceutical industry. However, besides the regulatory obligations of the manufacturers for QMS and for the adherence to the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) rules, the senior management must ensure sustainable business performance in the highly competitive environment of the industry. This necessitates seeking opportunities and approaches for adding value to the company performance from apparently “hidden” sources, e.g. QMS itself. Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the attitudes of the different categories of personnel of a Bulgarian pharmaceutical manufacturer to QMS as a factor for company performance. Materials and M ethods: A structured interview was conducted with the employees of a large Bulgarian pharmaceutical company in the period July-September 2019. An anonymous questionnaire with 11 statements, which had to be accepted or rejected, was completed by 101 respondents from different structural units (production, quality control, etc.) and different levels in the company (from operators to managers). Results: The majority of the respondents (68.3%) stated that the quality system definitely contributes to the company performance and development, and another 29.7% agreed with this statement with some reserves. According to the employees, the effectively operating QMS has a positive impact on the pharmaceutical company performance and development, mainly through the standard operating procedures (SOP), which facilitate the execution of the company activities and the quality risk management. The positive assessment by the employees of the role of rules and their impact on company performance indicates their maturity and awareness towards quality issues. A positive fact is that the employees from quality control and from production do not differ in their assessment of the contribution of SOP’s for the smooth operation of the company and the company results. Similarly, there is no difference between the attitudes of managers and department heads on one hand and the operators on the other. The importance of the training of the personnel in the quality issues and quality management is underestimated by the employees, especially by the operators. Conclusion : The employees appreciate the significance and impact of the effectively operating QMS on the company performance. It is recommended that practical examples be used in personnel training focusing on risk management, internal audits and handling of deviations, and on the effect of those tools on the quality of the products and the development of the business.

Mediating and moderating impact of goal orientation and emotional intelligence on the relationship of knowledge oriented leadership and knowledge sharing

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the underlying mechanism through which knowledge-oriented leadership (KOL) encourages knowledge sharing (KS) among the employees. It investigates KOL as an antecedent of KS. Furthermore, it also examines the mediation of employee goal orientation in the relationship of KOL and KS. Moderating role of emotional intelligence is also examined.Design/methodology/approachMultilayer data were collected from 223 employees of pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan. Structural equation modelling (SEM) is applied to analyse the model and hypothesis.FindingsThe result supports the direct positive effect of KOL on KS. Indirect effect of KOL on KS through the mediation of employee learning goal orientation is also supported by the result.Practical implicationsOrganizations or managers should engage their learning-oriented employees newly hired employee and front line manager in KS process. Leader should give different task to such an employee who did not perform earlier because in doing so, such employee will explore or exploit their own tacit knowledge and that of their colleagues.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by establishing unexplored indirect effect of KOL on KS through the mediation of employee goal orientation. By discussing goal orientation as an outcome of KOL, this study extends the literature of the outcomes of KOL, which are currently limited to KM, work attitudes and innovative performance.

Authentic Leadership and Psychological Capital: A mingle effort to increase job satisfaction and lessen job stress

Objectives: The need to lower job stress and enhance job satisfaction among employees is critical. Hence, this paper observes the role of authentic leadership and psychological capital in increasing job satisfaction with job stress as a mediator in the Bangladeshi pharmaceutical industry. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Present study is using simple random technique and collected data from 262 pharmaceutical industry employees by distributing and collecting questionnaire. Data were analyzed with the use of the SEM (Smart PLS 3). Results provided classical insights on the relationship between the variables examined in this study. Findings: It is noted via existing empirical submissions those strong statistical relationships between authentic leadership, psychological capital, job stress and job satisfaction does exist. In present study, most of the authentic leadership and PSYCAP components influence job satisfaction positively. It has also been established that job stress was negatively related to job satisfaction. The indirect effect of job stress was insignificant. As this is the first study in Bangladesh’s Pharmaceutical industry, hopefully the study will help in this industry to take decisions according to employee’s job stress and job satisfaction? Implications and directions for future studies were explained accordingly. Application/Improvements: There were no significant study in this context, this present study could be used to compare and decide right path to reduce job stress. Keywords: Authentic Leadership, Psychological Capital, Job Satisfaction, Job Stress

A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the employees of pharmaceutical industry

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) are a group of painful disorders of muscles, tendons, and nerves. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, thoracic outlet syndrome, and tension neck syndrome are examples. Fascination with technology, overly ambitious business expectation, and neglected human factor risks can have serious effects on manufacturers, suppliers, and service enterprises. As India is one of the largest and growing hubs in the world of manufacture industry, there is a great need to identify such problem. In this study, we identified such problems and discussed it. Objectives: The aim of this study is to gather data to identify jobs or work conditions that are most problematic, using sources such as injury and illness logs, medical records, and job analyses. Materials and Methods: Data collection was done by personal interview, history and physical examinations, specific symptoms questionnaire, and rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) survey for WRMDs. Results: In our study, we found that prevalence of neck pain was highest followed by back pain in general. Most participants had complained that pain only aggravated when they continue work without taking rest. On examination, the presence of cervical spine tenderness was highest, followed by hand joints and lumbar spine tenderness. In admin and skilled participants, RULA score was up to 4 (satisfactory and modification required), but in unskilled participants, RULA was up to 7 (not satisfactory and immediate changes may require). Conclusion: Work activities which are frequent and repetitive or activities with awkward postures cause these disorders which may be painful during work or at rest. Most WRMD affects the hands, wrists, elbows, neck, and shoulders.

IMPACT OF SAFETY HEALTH ENVIRONMENT ON EMPLOYEE RETENTION IN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY: MEDIATING ROLE OF JOB SATISFACTION AND MOTIVATION

Purpose: This study analyzes how employee retention is influenced by factors like safety health environment, job satisfaction and motivation. Methodology/Sampling: This research is quantitative in nature, where 250 survey questionnaires have been distributed within the employees of pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan. SPSS and AMOS have been utilized to analyze the direct and mediating effect of variables. Findings: This study confirms that employee retention is a significant outcome of safety health environment. Moreover, the levels of job satisfaction and employee motivation equally mediate the relationship between safety health environment and employee retention. Practical implications: The findings of this paper suggest that the pharmaceutical firms in Pakistan and specifically in Lahore should foster the health protection policies, and in turn it would help enhance the satisfaction and motivation of staff, resulting in the retention of capable employees.

Nanoformulations of Antiretrovirals Might Improve PrEP Effectiveness

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with antiretrovirals can reduce the risk for acquiring HIV, but its effectiveness depends on adherence. One strategy to improve adherence and effectiveness is a long-acting crystalline nanoparticle suspension of rilpivirine. After intramuscular injection in humans, this drug has remained present at substantial levels in plasma, cervicovaginal fluid, and vaginal tissue for 84 days. Using humanized bone marrow/liver/thymus (BLT) mice, investigators (some of them pharmaceutical industry employees) tested the effectiveness of …

Investigating inspection practices of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in selected Arab countries: views of inspectors and pharmaceutical industry employees

There are few studies that explore inspection practices of pharmaceutical facilities from the viewpoint of inspectors and industry employees. In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, inspectors and quality assurance staff from 4 Arab countries--the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan--were surveyed about their inspection practices and views. There was considerable variation in inspection practices across countries and between the inspectorate and quality assurance staff within countries. Divergence was found in views associated with payment mechanisms. There was mutual agreement by both groups that inspectors were in short supply and that they needed to be better trained. Inspectors appeared to have less authority than expected in order to control pharmaceutical manufacturing and marketing activities. Compounding this was a dearth of policy which would support a more uniform and systematic approach to the inspection process within and across countries.

How Pharmaceutical Industry Employees Manage Competing Commitments in the Face of Public Criticism

The pharmaceutical industry has been criticised for pervasive misconduct. These concerns have generally resulted in increasing regulation. While such regulation is no doubt necessary, it tends to assume that everyone working for pharmaceutical companies is equally motivated by commerce, without much understanding of the specific views and experiences of those who work in different parts of the industry. In order to gain a more nuanced picture of the work that goes on in the "medical affairs" departments of pharmaceutical companies, we conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with professionals working in medical departments of companies in Sydney, Australia. We show that this group of pharmaceutical professionals are committed to their responsibilities both to patients, research participants, and the public and to their companies. Despite the discrepancies between these commitments, our participants did not express much cognitive dissonance, and this appeared to stem from their use of two dialectically related strategies, one of which embraces commerce and the other of which resists the commercial imperative. We interpret these findings through the lens of institutional theory and consider their implications for pharmaceutical ethics and governance.

How Pharmaceutical Industry Employees Manage Competing Moral Commitments

The pharmaceutical industry has been criticised for pervasive misconduct. These concerns have generally resulted in increasing regulation. While such regulation is no doubt necessary, it tends to assume that everyone working for pharmaceutical companies is equally motivated by commerce, without much understanding of the specific views and experiences of those who work in different parts of the industry. In order to gain a more nuanced picture of the work that goes on in the ‘medical affairs’ departments of pharmaceutical companies, we conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with professionals working in medical departments of companies in Sydney, Australia. We show that this group of pharmaceutical professionals are committed to both their responsibilities to patients, research participants and the public, and to their companies. Despite the discrepancies between these commitments, our participants did not express much cognitive dissonance, and this appeared to stem from their use of two, dialectically-related, strategies, one of which embraces commerce, and the other of which resists the commercial imperative. We interpret these findings through the lens of institutional theory, and consider their implications for pharmaceutical ethics and governance.

On the Proposed Changes to the Credibility Gap in Industry-Supported Biomedical Research: A Critical Evaluation

A task force of pharmaceutical industry employees and medical journal editors propose 10 recommendations to address the problem of erosion of confidence in the reporting of the results of industry-sponsored clinical trials. These recommendations would not restore credibility to industry-sponsored biomedical research. A radical solution is required that severs the relationship between the industry and the journals and restores the integrity of the medical literature.

Integrating Genetic Studies of Nicotine Addiction into Public Health Practice: Stakeholder Views on Challenges, Barriers and Opportunities

Objective: Will emerging genetic research strengthen tobacco control programs? In this empirical study, we interview stakeholders in tobacco control to illuminate debates about the role of genomics in public health. Methods: The authors performed open-ended interviews with 86 stakeholders from 5 areas of tobacco control: basic scientists, clinicians, tobacco prevention specialists, health payers, and pharmaceutical industry employees. Interviews were qualitatively analyzed using standard techniques. Results: The central tension is between the hope that an expanding genomic knowledge base will improve prevention and smoking cessation therapies and the fear that genetic research might siphon resources away from traditional and proven public health programs. While showing strong support for traditional public health approaches to tobacco control, stakeholders recognize weaknesses, specifically the difficulty of countering the powerful voice of the tobacco industry when mounting public campaigns and the problem of individuals who are resistant to treatment and continue smoking. Conclusions: In order for genetic research to be effectively translated into efforts to minimize the harm of smoking-related disease, the views of key stakeholders must be voiced and disagreements reconciled. Effective translation requires honest evaluation of both the strengths and limitations of genetic approaches.

Eliciting views of Australian pharmaceutical industry employees on collaboration and the concept of Quality Use of Medicines

Pharmaceutical industry involvement in biomedicine has produced major benefits but has also caused concern. At present, there is no consensus as to how medical and government organizations should relate to the pharmaceutical industry and this is partly due to the absence of systematic study of the various alternatives. In Australia industry cooperation has been elicited through the 'Quality Use of Medicines' (QUM) framework within the 'National Medicines Policy'. Little is known about the way employees of pharmaceutical companies respond to the QUM policy and strategies. To examine the engagement of the Australian pharmaceutical industry with QUM with a view to assisting medical, government and consumer organizations who may wish to collaborate with industry. We carried out a qualitative study using in-depth, semistructured interviews with industry employees, primarily from medical and regulatory affairs departments. Employees of pharmaceutical companies claim that collaboration is important, and that they are altruistic and committed to QUM. At the same time, there is little evidence from this study to support the notion that QUM has brought about structural changes to industry or is positioned as the central goal or framework in designing a company's operational strategies. Moreover, there is a significant degree of ambivalence towards governments and medical organizations. Employees within the pharmaceutical industry claim a commitment to collaboration and QUM. While these claims cannot be taken entirely at face value, there is potential for meaningful collaboration with industry.

The effects of health belief model education on knowledge, attitude and behavior of Tehran pharmaceutical industry employees regarding breast cancer and mammography.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Because of unknown etiology of cancer there is no specific existing method to prevent this diseases. Annual mammography is considered the most valuable tool for detecting breast cancer in the earliest possible stages. This study was conducted to determine the effects of an education program on promoting mammography behaviors among employees using the health belief model. Methods: An experimental study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12 week education program based on health belief model to promote early detection of breast cancer using mammography. The sample size was 220 women aged 35 and over who were working in pharmaceutical industries. Participants were divided into two groups (110 in case group and 110 in control group). Base line and three months after education data was collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using an appropriate soft ware. Results: The study showed that the mean scores of knowledge, health belief variables (perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and perceived severity) and mammography behavior in case group were significantly increased. There was no significant difference observed in control group. The result also confirmed that the mean scores of perceived barriers were significantly decreased in case group but not in the control group. Conclusion: We can conclude that health belief model educations have an acceptable influence on promoting women to use mammography as a screening tool to early detection of breast cancer.