Healthy Skepticism Library item: 7844

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

Jones M, Greenfield S, Bradley C.
Survey of the advertising of nine new drugs in the general practice literature
Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics 1999; 24:(6):451-460
www.blackwell-synergy.com/rd.asp?code=JCP&vol=24&page=451&goto=abstract

Abstract:

A survey of the advertising of new drugs in the general practice (GP) literature over a 30 month period was undertaken as part of a larger study investigating the factors that influence the introduction of new drugs into clinical practice. Of 12 journals, 798 issues were surveyed. The total number of advertisements was almost 33,000, of which 2163 were for the study drugs. The pattern of advertising of each study drug was very complex and varied from month to month and between journals. There was no consistent pattern in the way drugs were advertised, with large variations in the amount and timing of advertisements. The prescribing data showed wide variations in the number of GPs prescribing each drug and in the amount prescribed. It was concluded that there is no clear relationship between the extent of the advertising of a drug and the amount of prescribing by the GPs.