Healthy Skepticism Library item: 11902

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: thesis

Yaros AM.
Attitudes and behaviors of human services students associated with direct-to-consumer advertising (dtca) of prescription drugs.
2007

Abstract:

This dissertation summarizes research on attitudes and behaviors of Human Services students associated with direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs. Written self-administered surveys were completed by 89 Human Services majors and 95 non-Human Services majors at a college in Alaska. Responses on selected questions were compared between the two groups and with the responses from a 1999 FDA national survey on DTCA. The study showed that Human Services majors were more likely than non-majors to read more prescription drug ads; to recall seeing or hearing ads for prescription drugs in the newspaper, on the Internet, and from direct mail; to recall television ads containing information about directions for use of the drug and what to do in case of an overdose; to look for more information about the drug; to talk to a health care provider about a health condition as a result of the ad; to ask a health care provider for more information about the drug; and to believe that ads lead people to demand drugs that may not be suitable for them. Students were less likely than the FDA survey respondents to tell whether the drug in television, newspaper, and magazines could be bought with or without a prescription; to recall fewer ads containing information about directions for use of the drug, who should take the drug, or what to do in case of overdose; and read little or none of the fine print. Students were more likely than the FDA respondents to have seen or heard ads from radio, magazines, and direct mail; and to ask a health care provider about a drug after seeing an ad. Human Services majors and FDA respondents were equally likely to look for more information about a drug after seeing an ad; and to ask a health care provider about a medical condition or illness as a result of seeing or hearing an advertisement for prescription drugs.

Notes:

Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering. Vol 68(2-B), 2007, pp. 1365.