Pharmaceutical Company Influence on Nurse Practitioner Prescribing

The influence of pharmaceutical industry sponsored education, promotions and gifts on the prescribing practices of physicians and medical students has been well documented in the literature. Nurse practitioners (NPs) also prescribe pharmaceutical products for their patients. However, the effect of corporate promotions on the prescribing practices of nurse practitioners has not been assessed. This quantitative, descriptive study investigated the relationship between pharmaceutical company sponsored educational programs, promotions and gifts and the self-reported prescribing beliefs and practices of certified nurse practitioners. Data demonstrate that nurse practitioner practice is influenced by their interactions with pharmaceutical companies yet, like their physician counterparts, some NPs do not recognize the influence on their prescribing practice. NPs value pharmaceutical interactions and recognize the benefits accrued but NPs need to be able to recognize the influence of pharmaceutical company interactions on their practice.