Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8115

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

Doucette WR, Schommer JC.
Consumer preferences for drug information after direct-to-consumer advertising
Drug Information Journal 1998; 34:(4):1081-1088

Abstract:

The effects of patient age, self-perceived medication knowledge, and the context of exposure to direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug advertising on consumers’ preferences for information from 6 sources, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, family members or friends, medical reference books, and product manufacturers, about the benefits, risks, and costs of prescription drugs were assessed in a postal survey of a random sample of 360 households in the United States. Of 331 deliverable surveys, 150 (45.3%) were returned and analyzed. The results showed that patients’ age and knowledge exerted significant influence on their preferences for information about the benefits, risks, and costs of prescription drugs. The patients preferred physicians and pharmacists as sources of information about drugs seen in DTC advertisements.