Healthy Skepticism Library item: 4460

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

Prescription drug advertising in Canada: an assessment
1992 Jan

Abstract:

This report is the product of a thorough evaluation of 1990 prescription drug journal advertising practices in Canada. The intent of this report is to arrive at some form of determination as to whether or not substantiation has been established with respect to promotion of pharmaceutical products by the drug industry. Has voluntary self-regulation been taking place by the industry? How well is the Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board functioning? A wide scope of print advertisements taken from five slected Canadian periodicals as well as the 1990 Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties were researched. They were compared against the PAAB’s Code of Advertising Acceptance. Of the 131 advertisements assessed, approximately 38% were deemed questionable. Questionable adds would include those which had perceived problems which are completely subjective, as well as definite PAAB code violations. To date, PAAB reviews of journal ads doe not appear to have been consistent or stringent enough.

Keywords:
*analytic survey/Canada/regulation of promotion/Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board (Can)/Code of Advertising Acceptance/journal advertisements/quality of information/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: JOURNAL ADVERTISEMENTS/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: AUTONOMOUS BODIES