Healthy Skepticism Library item: 4312

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

Beary JF 3rd.
Pharmaceutical ads in journals.
Ann Intern Med 1992 Oct 1; 117:(7):616

Abstract:

There are a number of problems with the study by Wilkes et al. Why were medical reviewers of journal articles rather than those with regulatory experience chosen to judge the advertisements. If Wilkes and colleagues could not find adequate scientific documentation for claims in ads why didn’t they seek them at the Food and Drug Administration since all claims in ads have to be backed up by controlled clinical trials. It is difficult to understand how the ads could contain inadequate information on safety information since all ads must be accompanied by such information. Finally, why did the authors expect that journal advertisements should meet the same standards as journal articles, since the two serve entirely different purposes.

Keywords:
Advertising/standards* Drug Industry* Periodicals* United States United States Food and Drug Administration *letter to the editor/United States/journal advertisements/regulation of promotion/quality of information/industry perspective/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: INDUSTRY/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: JOURNAL ADVERTISEMENTS