Exposure to tobacco advertisements, promotions, and sponsorships among in­school adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria: A cross­sectional study

Background: The Nigerian government implemented the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) in 2015, which prohibits tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) exposure to children under 18 years of age. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of attitudes and exposure to TAPS among in school adolescents in Lagos State, Nigeria, 5 years after the implementation of the Act and to identify the factors associated with TAPS exposure among the adolescents. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 968 in school adolescents selected through multistage random sampling. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires adapted from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey. Results: Overall, 77% had been exposed to at least one form of TAPS in the past 30 days. The most frequently reported channel of exposure was through product placements, with 62% reporting exposure in films, TV, and videos. Up to 15.2% and 12.6% were exposed to TAPS through promotional activities and sponsorships, respectively. The majority (82.3%) had pro tobacco attitudes, while about a third (33.1%) had pro TAPS attitudes. Factors associated with TAPS exposure were having pro TAPS attitudes (odds ratio [OR]: 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.3­5.3), being female (OR: 2, 95% CI: 1.4­2.7), and residing in a rural area (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2­2.3). Conclusion: Five years after implementing the NTCA, more than two thirds of the adolescents reported exposure to TAPS, mainly through films, TV, and videos. This suggests that the NTCA is poorly enforced. Efforts to ensure the effective implementation of comprehensive TAPS bans are warranted. Gender sensitive strategies that target adolescents' attitudes and school level factors should be emphasized.

Determinants of performance measures of clinical trials: a study of Indian medical devices industry

Developing new medical devices require extensive clinical investigations to enter the market successfully. In recent years, India has emerged as one of the attractive and most preferred countries to carry out clinical trials, primarily due to diverse humangene pool and cost-competitiveness. However, unlike other healthcare products such as therapeutic drugs, there is a lack of regulations over usage of medical devices. Moreover, prior systematic empirical analysis that examine the medical device based clinical trials is also not well established. This study attempted to ascertain the determinants of participant recruitment, selection of locations and time taken to conduct medical device clinical trials. Medical devices that are clinically tested in India inthe period of 2008 to 2014 were obtained from CTRI website. 108 out of 279 records were identified as medical device clinical trial registrations. Collected data was analyzed to know the device type, disease category, sponsors involved, participant enrolment, locations and the duration of the device trial. In this study, the category of sponsorship, device type and disease category were found to have significant influence with respect to the selection of number of participants, locations and the time takento execute medical device clinical trials

Efectos en la intención de compra de pirelli mediante el patrocinio deportivo en el world superbike / Effects on the pirelli`s purchase intention through sports sponsorship at the world superbike / Efeitos na intenção de compra de pirelli mediante o patrocínio esportivo no world superbike

En los últimos años, el patrocinio deportivo se ha convertido en una importante industria mundial, como parte integrada de la estrategia de comunicación dentro del departamento de marketing de las corporaciones. Eventos deportivos como World Superbike (SBK), se conciben como muy atractivos en dicha estrategia de patrocinio. Esta investigación analiza el efecto en la intención de compra de la marca Pirelli, a partir de su estrategia de patrocinio de SBK, mediante la administración de un cuestionario a 140 asistentes a la penúltima prueba del circuito de 2015, celebrada en Jerez (España). Los resultados muestran una intención de compra de un 80% a favor. Se ha encontrado una asociación entre la actitud hacia el evento, y el conocimiento de las marcas patrocinadoras, así como entre la actitud hacia el evento y la actitud frente a Pirelli. Por otro lado, no se han encontrado variables predictoras para la intención de compra.

In recent years, sports sponsorship has become an important global industry, as an integrated part of the communication strategies within the marketing department of corporations. Sports events like World Superbike are conceived as very attractive in this sponsorship strategy. This research analyzes the effect on the purchase intention of the Pirelli brand based its SBK sponsorship strategy; by administering a questionnaire to 140 attendees to the 2015 penultimate circuit test held in Jerez (Spain). The results show a purchase intention of 80% in favor. An association between the attitude towards the event and the knowledge of the sponsoring brands has been found, as well as, between the attitude towards the event and the attitude towards Pirelli. On the other hand, no predictor variables have been found for the purchase intention.

Nos últimos anos o patrocínio esportivo converteu-se em uma importante indústria mundial, como parte integrada da estratégia de comunicação dentro do departamento de marketing das corporações. Eventos esportivos como World Superbike concebem-se como muito atraentes em dita estratégia de patrocínio. Esta investigação analisa o efeito na intenção de compra da marca Pirelli a partir de sua estratégia de patrocínio de SBK, mediante a administração de um questionário a 140 assistentes à penúltima prova do circuito de 2015 celebrada em Jerez (Espanha). Os resultados mostram uma intenção de compra de 80% a favor. Encontrou-se uma associação entre a atitude para o evento e o conhecimento das marcas patrocinadoras, bem como entre a atitude para o evento e a atitude em frente à Pirelli. Por outro lado, não se encontraram variáveis reveladoras para a intenção de compra.

Ethical Relation between Physicians and Pharmaceutical Industries in the Perspectives of Bangladesh.

Abstract: Relation between physicians and pharmaceutical industry is required for the benefit of the patient. But it may turn into business and overthrow the patients’ benefit. The relation might be in question at present and in future. Several questions are flowing in Bangladesh. To solve these queries we have explored the situation in developed and developing countries. The physicians and associations of pharmaceutical industries developed several ethical guidelines in those countries. They have addressed the long lasting issues on gift provided to physician, cash back, sample, industry sponsored scientific meetings, research and hospitality. There are huge restrictions to ensure the right of the patient’s e.g. limitation of inexpensive gift by the pharmaceuticals, avoiding expensive medicine instead of equally effective low priced medicine. We are lacking behind to protect the patient right properly: regulation, adherence to existing guide line, lack of guidance from statutory bodies. The current scenario is far behind the right of patient. In Bangladesh it is not yet addressed either by professionals or by pharmaceutical associations. It is the immediate need to construct a guide line for physicians and pharmaceutical industry of Bangladesh.

Los que tienen el dinero hacen las reglas: auspicios y resultados en la investigación médica / Those who have the gold make the rules: funding and outcomes in medicines research

Last year, three coauthors and I published a systematic review and meta-analysis showing that the outcome of medicines research of all types is dependent on the source of funding. We showed that when pharmaceutical companies sponsor research it is much more likely to have a positive outcome than when funding comes from other sources. We postulated two possible reasons for our findings: publication bias and the use of inappropriate comparators. Since our article appeared, four similar papers have been published with three of these supporting our findings. The one dissenting paper may have suffered from a Type II error. Other explanations advanced to account for this bias and included a biased interpretation of the overall trial results. As the pharmaceutical industry expands its role in funding medicines research the bias in outcomes threatens the entire scientific endeavour.

El año pasado, tres coautores y yo publicamos una revisión sistemática y un metaanálisis que mostraban que los resultados de la investigación médica de cualquier tipo dependen de la fuente de recursos económicos. Mostramos que cuando las compañías farmacéuticas auspician los trabajos de investigación, éstos son mucho más proclives a tener un resultado positivo que cuando los fondos provienen de otras fuentes. Postulamos dos posibles explicaciones para nuestros hallazgos: sesgo de publicación y el uso de comparaciones inapropiadas. Desde que apareció nuestro artículo se publicaron cuatro estudios similares, de los cuales tres respaldan nuestros hallazgos. El único estudio que disentía con ellos podría haber sufrido un error de tipo II. Otra explicación posible que da cuenta de esta distorsión es una interpretación tendenciosa de los resultados generales de los ensayos. Dado que la industria farmacéutica está expandiendo su papel como auspiciante de las tareas de investigación médica, las distorsiones en los resultados amenazan todo el esfuerzo científico.