PLOS One published a study which found device reps' presence in the operating room may raise ethical questions about their impact on physicians.
In the study, researchers conducted group and individual open-ended interviews with two focus groups. Ear, nose and throat surgeons comprised the first focus group and hospital-based attending orthopedic surgeons were in the second group.
The investigators also had individual interviews with three former or current medical device representatives, an academic medical center's surgical residency program director and a medical assistant for a multi-physician orthopedic practice.
Here are five key notes:
1. Researchers found although surgeons perceive themselves as in charge, device reps make an effort to make themselves "unobtrusively indispensable."
2. By making themselves indispensable, their aim is to create and maintain influence as well as promote surgeons' loyalty to the reps' products.
3. Based on the interviews, researchers founds surgeons perceived the industry-funded training opportunity to be necessary.
4. In turn, device reps and some surgeons viewed the reps as benefiting patient care through raising effectives and lowering deficiencies among operating room staff.
5. The researchers said the study raises some ethical concerns pertaining to the "reliance of surgeons on device reps and device companies for education and surgical assistance and practical concerns regarding existing levels of competence among OR personnel."
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