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.
| 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 |
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