Results
Of 8,190 otorhinolaryngologists, 3,667 (44.8 %) were paid a total of
$13,873,562, in payments for lecturing, consulting, and writing by 72
pharmaceutical companies between 2016 and 2019. Median four-year
combined payments per physician was $1,022 (interquartile range:
$473–$2,526). Top 1%, 5%, and 10% of otorhinolaryngologists
received 42.3% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]:
37.2%–47.4%), 69.3% (95% CI: 65.9%–72.8%), and 80.6% (95% CI:
78.3%–82.9%) of overall payments, respectively. The median payments
per physicians were significantly higher among otorhinolaryngologists
authoring clinical practice guidelines ($11,522), society board members
($22,261), and journal editors ($35,143) than those without. The
payments and number of otorhinolaryngologists receiving payments
remained stable between 2016 and 2019.