Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6672

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

Drug advertising: is this good medicine?
Consumer Reports 1996 Jun; 62-63

Abstract:

The accuracy and usefulness of 28 direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs that appeared in top United States magazines was reviewed by a panel of 32 medical specialists. Two-thirds of the ads were judged to be factually accurate and backed by scientific evidence but many left out important information or only put it in the fine print. Only half were judged to convey important information on side effects in the main promotional text. About 40% were honest about efficacy and fairly described the benefits and risks in the main text. The findings suggest that the rules governing prescription-only advertising should not be loosened.

Keywords:
*analytic survey/United States/DTCA/direct-to-consumer advertising/print advertisements/quality of information/safety & risk information/regulation of promotion/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: PRINT AND BROADCASE ADVERTISEMENTS/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION