Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8338

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

Fahey M.
Guide to consumers' pharmaceutical purchasing behavior
Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy 1996 Sep-Oct; 2:489-490, 494, 498-499

Abstract:

To examine consumers’ purchasing decisions for prescription and nonprescription medications, a survey of 5000 consumers was conducted to determine their sources of advice about medications, their communications with prescribers about cost and impact on quality of life, their opinions about price equity of medications, the importance of the pharmacy benefit in health plans, and the role of advertising in purchasing decisions for nonprescription medications. Results revealed that Medicaid patients more often went to pharmacists for advice than to physicians. Those with traditional insurance and those in managed care plans also gathered information from multiple sources: 83% talked to the physician; 71% also consulted pharmacists. Survey data showed that only slightly more than one-half of patients reported having discussions with their physicians about both quality of life and cost considerations when a course of treatment was chosen. Approximately 60-70% of survey respondents who had insurance believe that the cost of prescription drugs is unfair. A majority (more than 70%) of all consumers considered the inclusion of a pharmacy benefit to be a very important criterion in their decision to purchase a health plan. One-half reported that they considered pharmaceutical advertisements as educational, helping them become more informed consumers. Forty-two percent said they would base their next purchase decision on such advertising.