Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3216

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

Schapiro R.
Rx: consumer ads. Promoting prescription drugs to the consumer
New Physician 1984; 33:(4):8-11

Abstract:

Drug companies are starting to get interested in direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. The Food and Drug Administration recently completed a study that showed that a large amount of risk information could be successfully communicated even on television but also that a substantial number of consumers also misunderstand the ads. Physician and consumer groups are against DTCA, but the American Medical Association has not taken a stand. Groups are worried that DTCA may damage the doctor-patient relationship. There are also potential benefits of DTCA including alerting consumers to new therapies, providing them with pricing information and allowing consumers to play a more active role in health care decisions. It is not clear if the FDA or the Federal Trade Commission would regulate broadcast ads. The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association has not taken a stand on the issue.

Keywords:
*analysis/United States/ broadcast advertisements/DTCA/direct-to-consumer advertising/attitude toward promotion/doctors/AMA/American Medical Association/ consumer behaviour & knowledge/ regulation of promotion/ Federal Trade Commission/ FDA/ Food and Drug Administration/quality of information/ Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (US)/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: CONSUMERS/PATIENTS/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: HEALTH PROFESSIONALS/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: INDUSTRY/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION