Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8329

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

Hemeryck L, Chan R, McCormack PM, Condren L, Feely J.
Pharmaceutical advertisements in Irish medical journals
Journal of Pharmaceutical Medicine 1995; 5:(3-4):147-151

Abstract:

To assess the quality and quantity of information in pharmaceutical advertisements published in Irish medical journals, the compliance of 100 consecutive advertisements with the Federation of Irish Chemical Industries (FICI) code of marketing practice was measured. Eleven advertisements failed to include the product authorization number, 9 a statement that full or additional prescribing information is available, 3 the approved or other non-proprietary names of the active ingredients, 2 the address of the product authorization holder, and 1 the name of the holder; all of which is regarded as essential information to be included in all advertisements. One hundred doctors completed a questionnaire assessing 10 randomly selected advertisements. These were judged not to be of good educational value by 72% of the doctors, and 80% were not comfortable with the fact that information relating to side effects, contraindications, or precautions had been excluded. It was concluded that inadequacies in pharmaceutical advertisements in Ireland exist.