Healthy Skepticism Library item: 582

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

Wolfe S.
Drug advertisements that go straight to the hippocampus.
Lancet 1996 Sep 7; 348:(9028):632

Keywords:
*analysis quality of prescribing source of information doctors regulation of promotion Food and Drug Administration FDA journal advertisements ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: GIFT GIVING ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: PAYMENT FOR MEALS, ACCOMODATION, TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: JOURNAL ADVERTISEMENTS INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE PROMOTION DISGUISED: CLINICAL TRIALS PROMOTION DISGUISED: CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS PROMOTION DISGUISED: GHOST-WRITING AND JOURNAL ARTICLES PROMOTION DISGUISED: SUPPORT FOR CME REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: COMPLIANCE, SANCTIONS, STANDARDS REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION

Notes:

Advertisements are now appearing in marketing oriented journals from companies selling marketing services that promise to produce communications that “are focused on making the hippocampus . . . the prescription-writing center of the [doctor’s] brain . . . respond positively to your product.” Perhaps this process accounts for the poor prescribing of many physicians which is linked to drug industry spending on promotion. Physicians should support efforts by relevant agencies to police drug advertising. There is potential lack of compliance with Food and Drug Administration regulations on drug advertising 92% of advertisements.