Abstract

Drug consumption in the population represents an area of continuous study which requires substantial knowledge of the associated variables in order to improve programs dedicated to consumption prevention. The main goal of this research was to determine the variables which can predict drug consumption in a group of 570 schoolchildren based on the knowledge the target group has got about these drugs. The type of study was transversal. The multifactorial logistic regression model determined factors associated with drug consumption in the sample. The most important factor contributing to consumption was television. The presentation of drug consumers on television is thought to be significantly negative and it is taken in a simplistic form.

Abstract

Studies related to the use of addictive substances usually reflect the point of view of consumers. In this paper we present a qualitative analysis of the answers of non-users related to the impact of television on their attitudes and behaviour. This article is the result of extensive research carried out in the city of Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico that aimed to describe the relationship between television and the identification and promotion of values that protect the city’s teenagers from drug use. The data obtained provide those in charge of television programming with suggestions from the teenagers to help them stay drug-free.

Abstract

The medical information (MI) function within the pharmaceutical industry plays a significant role in the provision of scientific answers for patients and healthcare professionals. The purpose of this study is to identify the current structure, organization, and functions of MI departments in Spain. Sixty local and international pharmaceutical companies based in Spain were invited to participate in this study between May and July 2019. An online 34–item questionnaire developed by the AMIFE MI Working Group was distributed to the companies. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics using response frequencies. A total of 44 responses from 60 surveys (73%) were received. More than half of the respondents were employed in international companies based in Europe (57%, n = 25). Seventy-one percent (n = 31) of the companies had 100 to 1,000 employees in Spain. Most respondents declared that they had an MI department in their company (73%, n = 32), with most (53%) having two to five employees working on MI. Most MI (n = 50) specialists had a biomedical academic degree (predominantly pharmacy, biology, and medicine). MI departments were involved in many functions, the most common being answering enquiries (100%), handling drug information requests (97%), preparing written responses (94%), and literature services for external use (77%). The mean annual volume of MI enquiries was 2,301 (median 1,100). The results of this survey contribute to a better understanding of MI departments in Spanish pharmaceutical companies, as well as their functions and responsibilities, and could help identify opportunities and areas for improvement.