International Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Research
2025, Volume-6, Issue-3
Original Research Article
Evaluating the Rationality of Drug Promotional Literature (DPL) in Outpatient Departments of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Maharashtra using WHO Guidelines: A Cross-Sectional, Observational Study
Published
May 17, 2025
Abstract

Introduction: Drug Promotional Literature (DPL) is a key marketing tool used by pharmaceutical companies to influence prescribing patterns of healthcare professionals. However, these materials often lack comprehensive, evidencebased information. This study aims to evaluate the rationality of DPLs distributed in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Maharashtra using WHO guidelines and compare it with similar studies. Methodology: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted from July to September 2023. A total of 100 DPLs were collected from various outpatient departments. Each DPL was analyzed for compliance with WHO criteria. All the data was entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Among the 100 DPLs assessed, compliance with WHO criteria varied significantly. While 95% of the DPLs mentioned the brand name, only 62% provided the active ingredient. Details on side effects and adverse reactions were found in only 40% of cases, whereas drug interactions were mentioned in just 35%. Compared to previous studies, compliance with scientific references was slightly higher (28% vs. 22% in Mali et al., 2010). Conclusion: The study highlights significant gaps in the completeness and transparency of DPLs. The findings call for stricter regulatory oversight and improved ethical standards in pharmaceutical marketing.

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