Healthy Skepticism Library item: 14403

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Hochman M, Hochman S, Bor D, McCormic D.
Reporting Pharmaceutical Company Funding and Use of Generic Medication Names
JAMA 2008 Oct 1; 300:(13):1544-1550.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/300/13/1544?etoc

Abstract:

Context The news media are an important source of information about medical research for patients and even some physicians. Little is known about how frequently news articles report when medication research has received funding from pharmaceutical companies or how frequently news articles use generic vs brand medication names.

Objectives To assess the reporting of pharmaceutical company funding and generic medication name use in news articles about medication studies and to determine the views of newspaper editors about these issues.

Design, Setting, and Participants We reviewed US news articles from newspaper and online sources about all pharmaceutical company–funded medication studies published in the 5 most prominent general medical journals between April 1, 2004, and April 30, 2008. We also surveyed editors at the 100 most widely circulated newspapers in the United States.

Main Outcome Measures The percentage of news articles indicating when studies have been pharmaceutical company–funded and the percentage that refer to medications by their generic vs brand names. Also the percentage of newspaper editors who indicate that their articles report pharmaceutical company funding; the percentage of editors who indicate that their articles refer to medications by generic names; and the percentage of newspapers with policies about these issues.