Nineteen percent of US office-based physicians refuse to see drug and device industry sales reps, according to a recent analysis conducted by healthcare marketing firm SK&A Information Services.
Another 22.7% require reps to set an appointment, the survey found.
“The old days of walking into an office and bumping into the doctor are waning,” Dave Escalante, SK&A president said in a statement.
The SK&A study was based on a telephone survey of 180,000 doctors during the fourth quarter of 2007.
About 5% of surveyed physicians will visit with reps only on specific days of the week and 3.2% percent have restricted their access to specific times of the day with lunch time being the most popular.
Meanwhile, nearly 73% of physicians surveyed will take details from reps at any time of day or any day of the week, the survey said.
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| When are Physicians Available to See Drug and Device Sales Reps? |
|
|
| |
Percent of |
| Availability |
Physicians Responding |
|
|
| Will see reps any time or any day |
72.7% |
|
|
| Will see reps only on specific days of week |
5.0% |
|
|
| Will see reps only during specific times of day |
3.2% |
| Morning: 1.0% |
|
| Lunch: 1.2% |
|
| Afternoon: 1.0% |
|
|
|
| Will not see reps any time or any day |
19.1% |
|
|
| TOTAL |
100% |
|
|
| Appointment required to see physician |
22.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
-Source: SK&A Information Services
January 2008 |