I wonder why Aptamil is the most promoted formula by HCPs?

[NotReallyHereHunker]

Could it be the discounted dry cleaning?



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[fedupwasherwoman]

It's interesting that healthcare professionals seem to be being portrayed as especially/uniquely gullible when in fact they are perhaps a more educated strata of society than average (H.V.'S perhaps the exception to this rule).

Surely they know about the establishment of personal relationships being necessary for salesmen to achieve their ultimate goal in the same way they know about the benefits of gaining their patients' trust with a view their ultimate goal of providing the most appropriate treatment in a timely manner.

I do sense a slight level of "evil boogeyman" paranoia here.

[Malfoynomore]

lol Spink

[tiktok]

at Spink - it proves my point though - the 'free lunches' stopped, didn't they, when it was seen you wouldn't watch the presentation. Interesting that there was a bit of you felt it was 'rude' - and common manners does 'demand' you 'do' something for the lunch.

The same salesperson (or the company) will try again in a while.

Paranoia, fedup? Not at all. Realism. Relationships are very important when trying to change behaviors. I don't think HCPs inc doctors are uniquely gullible - I am saying they are human, like the rest of us, and they share the same responses to marketing strategies.

We're only talking about HCPs and drug salespeople because that's the area that most closely relates to formula marketing, but you could equally well apply it to telecomms providers, banks, supermarkets, whatever. These techniques are mostly used when customer loyalty is worth a lot. So with formula, you get a customer and you have her for many, many months, even years if she sticks with you for 'growing up' milk.

[bristols]

NMC code of conduct, section 7.4:

"You must refuse any gift, favour or hospitality that might be interpreted, now or in the future, as an attempt to obtain preferential consideration."

[lubyluby]

thanks for that bristols! i read and re-read it a load of times but couldn't find it for looking. might raise that at next ward meeeting.

[bristols]

Not exactly the most interesting read, Luby! It's an interesting point. I don't know what your colleagues will think of you jepordising their free lunches!

We never see reps in my department and I'm pleased about that.

[lubyluby]

we don't really get free lunches, just every so often a pile of free pens, dairies, lanyards, mousemats calcualtors etc turns up. they usually coem via the bounty woman as well who also gives us packets of wipes and johnsons baby bath etc especailly if she knows you have children.

[HelloMama]

We actually have to apply for ethics committee approval in our PCT now if a drug rep is supplying a lunch for an event or wants to do a presentation!

[FlossALump]

They may well have 'won' with me but then an anti ulcer drug vs another anti ulcer drug isn't quite so controversial as breast vs bottle feeding. On or off MN! So i think I can still sleep at night!

[lollie01]

Immunofortis is just a branding word for aptamils new advanced formula range that has ?prebiotics? in them. I am not surprised they are so widely publicised and promoted. They enhance the baby's gut by promoting friendly bacteria to thrive. This must (IMO) be of huge benefit to the baby over other formulas which do not. Because formula fed babies normally do not get the immune boosting gut micro flora of a breast fed baby it is definitely a step in the right direction for baby formulas as some formulas are not beneficial to babies in the long term as it encourages the wrong kind of bacteria to manifest. I would definitely use aptamil immunofortis if I couldn't breastfeed over other formulas as the balance of my baby?s gut will have long term health benefits for my baby, even if it not obvious now and I am a nutrition advisor.

[tiktok]

lollie, it may be correct that this particular ingredient has some benefits over formula that does not, but your opinion that this benefit 'must be huge' is not based on the research
published here which found the differences (in the stools) 'insignificant' after 16 weeks.

Australia and New Zealand have yet to approve prebiotics on safety and regulatory grounds , see

here

On the other hand, other ingredients in other formulas claim to support brain and eye development and to prevent kidney damage.

How do you, as a nutrition adviser, help parents decide which is the better claim - supporting brain and eye development and preventing kidney damage or boosting the immune system?

And how do you judge, when so much of the information comes from manufacturers themselves? Do you not think we need more independent assessment, and fewer promotional health claims?