Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8389

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

Fisher JJ.
Cautiously circling the issue of Rx consumer ads
Pharmaceutical Executive 1984 Sep; 4:46, 50-51, 102

Abstract:

A summary of viewpoints from a national symposium of consumer associations, and a survey of physicians and pharmacists on the controversial issue of prescription drug advertising to the consumer by the pharmaceutical industry, are presented. Results showed a divergence of opinion among consumer representatives about how best to communicate drug information to patients. Of the 800 physicians and pharmacists interviewed, only 150 claimed awareness of consumer directed advertising. Nearly two-thirds of the physicians and approximately one-half of the pharmacists interviewed were strongly opposed to and concerned about advertising prescription drugs directly to consumers.