Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6858
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
Hollon MF.
Direct-to-consumer marketing of prescription drugs: creating consumer demand.
JAMA 1999 Jan 27; 281:(4):382-4
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/281/4/382
Abstract:
While providing educational information to the public may be one reason why industry is interested in direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs, another reason is the bottom-line desire for profit. If studies of advertising directed at physicians offer a clue, then the information in DTCA has minimal educational value. Costs due to DTCA can include: an increase in expenditures, improper use of drugs and harm from adverse effects. We cannot assume that doctors will act as a safety net against the inappropriate use of drugs that may result from DTCA. Until well designed, independent studies prove the value of DTCA the Food and Drug Administration should consider stricter, not more permissive, regulations.
Keywords:
*analysis/United States/direct-to-consumer advertising/patients/doctors/Food and Drug Administration/FDA/regulation of promotion/quality of information/quality of prescribing/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE/PROMOTION AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION: CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS/PROMOTIONAL TECHNIQUES: DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION
Advertising*
Drug Industry*
Drug Utilization
Federal Government
Government Regulation
Health Services Needs and Demand
Humans
Information Dissemination
Patient Participation*
Physician's Practice Patterns
Physician-Patient Relations*
Prescriptions, Drug
Public Health
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Risk Assessment*
United States
