A recent study has revealed that most physicians endorsing prescription drugs or medical devices on X, formerly known as Twitter, have received payments from the manufacturers of the same products.
This finding raises concerns about the financial ties between doctors and the pharmaceutical industry.
The study, published in JAMA, found that 26 out of 28 physicians, equating to 93%, received at least one payment from manufacturers. The average payment was over $27,400, covering expenses such as food and beverages, speaking engagements, consulting fees, and travel costs.
Alarmingly, in 24 cases, the payments were directly related to the specific drugs or devices endorsed on the social media platform. Only one physician was paid nearly $225,000 for research related to an endorsed drug.
Furthermore, the study revealed that two-thirds of these doctors did not score highly on an index measuring academic productivity, and half had no publications related to the products they endorsed.
Additionally, 61% of the endorsements were classified as sponsored testimonials, with nearly half of the doctors failing to disclose any compensation from the manufacturers.
The United States remains one of the few developed countries that permits pharmaceutical companies to advertise their products, including through radio, television, and social media. It is also legal for doctors and other healthcare professionals in the U.S. to receive payments for endorsing these drugs.
This legal framework has enabled a significant number of endorsements on platforms like X to be financially motivated.
The researchers behind the study utilized the Open Payments website, managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to identify the financial ties between doctors and drug manufacturers.
By examining the endorsement history of 28 doctors who posted on X, the researchers found that 26 had received payments from the drug manufacturers they endorsed. Notably, 24 of these doctors received payments specifically related to the drugs they endorsed on the platform.
Most payments were categorized under “speaking” or “consulting,” and the majority of the endorsements were sponsored testimonials. This raises ethical questions about the impartiality of such endorsements, although it remains a legal practice that does not impact medical licensing.
The implications of this study are significant for patients who rely on social media for medical advice. The financial ties between doctors and pharmaceutical companies may influence the trustworthiness of the endorsements seen on platforms like X.