Healthy Skepticism Library item: 4704

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

Hogan DJ, Sarel D, Canas A, Bellman B, Eaglstein W, Hogan LA, Kramer J.
An analysis of advertisements in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1980 and 1990.
J Am Acad Dermatol 1993 Jun; 28:(6):993-7

Abstract:

The authors performed a content analysis of all advertisements for prescription and nonprescription drugs that appeared in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 1980 and 1990. There was a reduced use of relevant scientific information in ads in 1990 compared with 1980. Advertisements in 1990 made significantly more use of photographs and graphics than in 1980 but most graphics and photographs were irrelevant. The analysis indicates that pharmaceutical ads in 1990 increasingly resemble consumer ads. Few ads make specific mention in their text of side effects and few make warning of side effects as vivid as the promotion.

Keywords:
*analytic survey/United States/journal advertisements/quality of information/Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: JOURNAL ADVERTISEMENTS

Notes:

Methodology note: Data extraction was preformed by a single reviewer which may have introduced bias. The text in the advertisements was not analyzed for accuracy.