Given the harsh criticism facing the industry, the latest poll results probably won’t come as a surprise: The institutions believed to have the greatest responsibility for drug safety are often those that are least trusted to do so.

Among the four entities integral to drug safety - the FDA, drugmakers, doctors and Congress - people identified the FDA and pharmaceutical companies as bearing the most responsibility for drug safety. But when asked about corresponding levels of trust, both faired poorly.

Moreover, people are skeptical that drugmakers will release information, positive or negative, about the safety of their products. Doctors and other healthcare providers, on the other hand, were also seen as bearing a high amount of responsibility for drug safety, but unlike the FDA and drugmakers, healthcare providers received high trust ratings.

The survey of 1,726 adults was conducted by Harris Interactive for the Pharmaceutical Safety Institute. Here are the key results:

- 60 percent believe the FDA has a great deal of responsibility for safety;
- 53 percent believe drugmakers have a deall of responsibility for safety;
- 30 percent believe doctors have a great deal of responsibility for safety;
- 22 percent believe Congress has a great deal of responsibility for safety.

Only 45 percent somewhat or very strongly trust the FDA. Only 27 percent somewhat or very strongly trust drugmakers. And only 20 percent somewhat or very strongly trust Congress. But 58 percent somewhat or very strongly trust doctors or other professionals who prescribe drugs.

Only 43 percent are fairly, very or extremely confident that drugmakers will release any info about adverse reactions. And only 44 percent are fairly, very or extremely confident that drugmakers will eventually disseminate all info - positive or negative - they have regarding safety.

Further reading…
The Pharmaceutical Safety Institute.

[tags]Drug Safety, FDA[/tags]