Educational Materials

Optimal Prescribing Practices

Physician Education Module

Kesselheim AS, Avorn J.  Pharmaceutical Promotion to Physicians and First Amendment Rights. NEJM. 2008 Apr; 358(16):1727-1732.

Kesselheim AS, Misono AS, Lee JL, Stedman MR, Brookhart MA, Choudhry NK, Shrank WH.  The clinical equivalence of generic and brand-name drugs used in cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Amer Med Assn. 2009; 300:2514-2526.

Annotated bibliography on pharmaceutical promotion and prescribing patterns, compiled November 2007 by Jeremy Greene, M.D., Ph.D.   (.pdf format) 

Physician Curriculum on Optimal Prescribing

Part I.  Evaluating drug risks: what every clinician should know   (.pdf format)

Part II.  Factors influencing drug choices by clinicians and patients   (.pdf format)

Part III.  Academic detailing to improve the appropriateness and contain the cost of prescribing   (.pdf format)

Part IV.  Assessing the cost-effectiveness of medications: an introduction   (.pdf format)

Trainee Education Module

Medical Education Day, October 2007 - poster   (.pdf format)

Medical Education Day, October 2007 - abstract   (.pdf format)

Trainee Curriculum on Issues in Drug Development and Optimal Prescribing

Case 1.  The FDA and the Limitations of the Drug Approval Process: The Case of Cerivastatin.  Lee Adam Wheeler HMS'10   (.pdf format)

Case 2.  Post-approval Medication Surveillance: The Case of Antidepressants in Children.  Lauren Gold, HMS'08   (.pdf format)

Case 3.  Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices Aimed at Physicians.  Matt Zerden, HMS'08   (.pdf format)

2008 National Student Essay Contest

A portion of the 2004 settlement paid by the manufacturer of Neurontin, following charges of consumer fraud and off-label marketing of the product, was reserved by the Attorneys General of all 50 states to establish the AG Prescriber and Consumer Education Grant Program.  This program made available grant funds to educate physicians and medical students about pharmaceutical marketing practices.  The BWH Division of Pharmacoepidemiology & Pharmacoeconomics was awarded one such grant, and used a portion of the funds to conduct an essay contest for medical students.

Medical students from around the country submitted essays, and in each of four regions a First Prize winner, three Second Prize winners, five Third Prize winners, and dozens of Honorable Mention winners were chosen by a group of Harvard Medical School faculty.  No pharmaceutical company was involved in any way throughout the conduct of the competition.

Each submitted essay responded to one or more of the following questions: 

(1)    How have your experiences as a medical student shaped your understanding of the interaction between the pharmaceutical industry and the practicing physician?

(2)    What have you learned in medical school about the relationship between pharmaceutical promotion and physician prescribing, and how could that aspect of your education be enhanced?

(3)    Describe a notable interaction with a drug sales representative that you have had or observed, and how that interaction will help influence your work as a physician.

 Winning essays are included below.

2008 National Student Essay Contest details   (.pdf format)

First Place Essays

Second Place Essays

 Third Place Essays