Healthy Skepticism Library item: 18611

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: Electronic Source

Silverman E
American Priorities: Safety, Cost & Pharma Influence
Pharmalot 2010 Aug 24
http://www.pharmalot.com/2010/08/americans-care-about-safety-cost-pharma-influence/

Full text:

What do Americans think about when they think about prescription drugs? A new survey finds that cost, safety and industry influence over physicians are on a lot of minds. The overall picture suggests many Americans want cheaper generics; they worry about side effects and drug interactions, and believe docs are more concerned with newer, expensive meds than what is affordable. The survey was conducted last May by Consumer Reports of 1,154 adults who currently take prescription meds.
To be more specific, 46 percent of those surveyed currently take a prescription med, and the average number they regularly take is 4.1. But nearly 90 percent expressed concern about physician prescribing habits – 69 percent agreed completely or somewhat that drugmakers have too much influence. Fifty percent say docs are too eager to prescribe a drug rather than consider alternatives, and 47 percent believe drugs they are prescribed are influenced by gifts pharma gives to docs.
Not surprisingly, those 65 and older take the greatest number of prescriptions – 5.1 average- and one-fifth have seven or more. Monthly out-of-pocket spending for those regularly taking meds is $68, and 14 percent spend more than $100. Those with the greatest monthly costs are 65 and older without a Medicare drug benefit ($114). But 51 percent agreed that docs don’t consider a patient’s ability to pay when prescribing and 32 percent say they cannot rely on a doc’s advice alone to choose the best med.
Virtually all consumers, 98 percent to be exact, are aware of generics, which account for 73 percent of prescriptions among those who regularly take a med. And cost cutting was pervasive: 39 percent reduced costs by not filling a scrip, cutting pills in half, skipping dosages or taking expired meds. So-called non-compliance was most prevalent among those under age 65 without a drug benefit, where household income was less than $40,000, or monthly out-of-pocket drug spending exceeded $50. More than half of those taking a med spoke to a doc about switching prescriptions, and among them, 39 percent cited cost: they either wanted a med covered by insurance or wanted a less expensive med.
What kind of info is very valuable? Well, 87 percent cited safety; followed by 79 percent who say info about interactions with other meds; 78 percent pointed to side effects; comparative effectiveness was cited by 62 percent; 50 percent mentioned comparative price info and 40 percent say the length of time a drug has been on the market (see statement here).
“Given that so many Americans are taking prescription drugs, and often multiple medicines, we were somewhat reassured by the high priority associated with safety and side effects. Being attuned to those concerns can help counterbalance the tremendous influence of the drug companies,” says John Santa, director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center, in a statement.