Recommendations Regarding the Use of Guidelines / Policies

Family practice residency programs should comply with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support when the residency provides continuing medical education for family physicians, be they faculty, preceptors or community family physicians.

Family practice residencies should teach residents, as well as model by faculty in the residency, the AMA/AOA Guidelines on Gifts to Physicians From Industry. Such teaching and modeling should include "giveaways" in residency fairs. For example, "giveaways" which are in compliance with the guidelines include educational materials of less than $100 value, while materials not related to the physician's work or those of greater than $100 value are not in compliance, nor are travel expenses to continuing education courses. Finally, residencies should teach and model understanding of the implications of accepting a gift that is not of educational value, such as food or a holiday gift.

Family practice residencies need to prepare residents to themselves be prepared for their patients bringing information received by direct to consumer advertising.

Family practice residencies should model ethical behavior, for which faculty are responsible, when accepting funds from industry to support research in the residency.

Family practice residencies should develop as well as evaluate clinical guidelines and protocols. In so doing, they should seek disclosure of who developed the guidelines and how the guideline process was supported financially. Residencies should create their own mechanisms for implementing clinical guidelines.

If residencies accept support from industry for special projects, then the residencies should model full disclosure of the role of industry, compared with the role of the residency in the project.

Family practice residencies should have policies on "detailing" by representatives of pharmaceutical companies during residency hours and within residency space. These policies should include "drug fairs" as well as sample cabinets.

In summary, not only should family practice residencies comply with existing standards and guidelines for commercial support, but also residencies should develop and model policies that enable residents and faculty to maintain consistency in ethical behavior. Residencies need to help residents learn ethics, full disclosure, expectations of both parties, as well as how to manage pressure from representatives of pharmaceutical companies, particularly during patient care time.