Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8345

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

Drug advertising: is this good medicine?
Consum Rep 1996 Jun; 61:(6):62-3

Abstract:

The results of a review of the accuracy and usefulness of 28 prescription drug advertisements by a panel of 32 medical specialists for fair balance, disclosure of side effects, and other U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements and how useful the advertisement would be to a consumer are reported. Results indicate two-thirds of the advertisements were judged to be factually accurate and backed by scientific evidence but many left out important information or only put it in fine print, half were judged to convey important information about side effects, and about 40% were honest about efficacy and fairly described the benefits and risks in the main text. It is concluded that the rules governing prescription drug advertising to consumers should not be loosened and in particular, it would be a bad idea for the FDA to adopt the standards of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Keywords:
Advertising* Humans Marketing of Health Services* Pharmaceutical Preparations* United States United States Food and Drug Administration