Consumers Union Poll: Public Cares about Pharma Influence

Pharmapologists have long complained that pharmascolds like me fantasize that the U.S. public might lose trust in physicians if they knew all about the shenanigans that go on with Pharma influence, when in actual fact they don't give a darn or else are thrilled that their docs are big industry fans. I've addressed the data on this in a previous post:
http://brodyhooked.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-do-patients-think-of-docs.html

Now Consumer Reports weighs in with a new poll conducted back in May and just released:
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/health/2010/08/consumers-say-big-pharma-influence-on-docs-is-concerning-consumer-reports-survey.html

Basic findings:

• 69% of Americans think drug makers have too much influence on physicians' prescribing decisions
• Half say docs are too eager to whip out the drug prescription pad when a non-drug treatment option works just as well or better
• 47% say gifts from the drug industry influence physicians to prescribe certain drugs
• 41% worry that docs tend to prescribe newer and more expensive drugs
• 51% grumble that docs don't consider a patient's ability to pay when prescribing