Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6909

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: news

Mansfield P.
Debate: drug advertising
Australian Doctor 1999 Oct 864

Abstract:

Direct-to-consumer advertising is opposed by general practitioners around the world. The quality of information that would be in ads would be unreliable. DTCA diverts attention and resources away from many important conditions that are not sources of big profits for drug companies often towards conditions where drugs provide less benefit for money. Consumer organizations oppose DTCA since it is difficult to distinguish reliable from unreliable information. Finally, DTCA will drive up drug costs diverting resources from other areas.

Keywords:
*analysis/Australia/quality of information/DTCA/direct-to-consumer advertising/primary care doctors/profit motive/consumer groups/ consumer behaviour & knowledge/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: CONSUMERS/PATIENTS/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: HEALTH PROFESSIONALS/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE