WHO EMRO | Attitudes and behaviours of physicians towards the relationship with the pharmaceutical in PDF version Salman A. Bahammam 1 , Suhail S. Asiri1,Yassar AL-Jahdali 1,2 , Salim Baharoon 1,2 , Adnan AL Shaikh 1 , Majed AL-Ghamdi 1-2 , Abdullah ALharbi 1,2 and Hamdan Al-Jahdali 1,2 1 College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Correspondence to: salim Baharoon: baharoon@hotmail.com). 2 Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City – National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Abstract Background: The relationship and interactions between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry can affect patient care. A physician’s practice can be influenced by this relationship. It is believed that these interactions are common among doctors in Saudi Arabia. Aims: This study was undertaken to assess the frequency of such relationships and physicians’ attitudes and behaviours toward them. Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire survey completed by practicing physicians at four Saudi government and private tertiary care centres in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire addressed the frequency of meetings with representatives of pharmaceutical companies (PRs) and of receiving gifts and considered the physicians’ attitudes and behaviours towards PRs. Results: A total of 300 completed questionnaires were obtained. Among the physicians surveyed, 223 (74.3%) met PRs one to three times per month. Up to 191 (64%) of physicians admitted receiving gifts. More than two thirds of physicians 192 (63%) have been invited to 1 / 10