Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6926

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

Wilkes MS, Bell RA, Kravitz RL.
Direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising: trends, impact, and implications.
Health Aff (Millwood) 2000 Mar-Apr; 19:(2):110-28
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/reprint/19/2/110

Abstract:

We provide an overview of what is known about the impact of direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs. Specifically, we explore the historical trends that led to the industry’s increasing use of this form of promotion. Then, using the published literature to date, we review the impact of DTC advertising on the consumer, the medical
profession, and the health care system. We conclude by offering policy suggestions for how the pharmaceutical industry can promote its products more responsibly, how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can regulate DTC advertising more effectively, and how the medical and public health communities can educate the public about drug therapies more
constructively.

Keywords:
*nonsystematic review/United States/DTCA/direct-to-consumer advertising/doctor-patient relationship/quality of prescribing/attitude toward promotion/regulation of promotion/FDA/Food and Drug Administration/broadcast advertisements/print advertisements/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: DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION Advertising/economics Advertising/methods* Advertising/trends* Attitude of Health Personnel Attitude to Health Drug Industry/organization & administration* Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Humans Marketing of Health Services/organization & administration Mass Media* Organizational Policy Patient Education/methods Physician's Practice Patterns/statistics & numerical data Physician's Practice Patterns/trends Physician's Role Physician-Patient Relations Prescriptions, Drug* United States United States Food and Drug Administration