Survey Shows Doctors Have Limited Knowledge of FDA Approval Protocol

Over half of American doctors are under the impression the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process for new drugs and medical devices is more rigorous than it actually is, a national survey reports. The survey, conducted by a research team from the University of California–San Francisco and the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, shows that less than half of doctors have a moderate or better understanding of the FDA’s drug approval process, while just 17 percent reported a moderate or better understanding of the agency’s medical device approval process. “Physicians’ understanding of the FDA’s evidence requirements is important, especially given the increasing use of expedited approval pathways for both drugs and medical devices,” the research team wrote....