Healthy Skepticism Library item: 1241

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

Bodenheimer T.
Two advertisements for TV drug ads.
Health Aff (Millwood) 2003 Jan-Jun; Suppl:
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/reprint/hlthaff.w3.112v1

Abstract:

The paper by Joel Weissman and colleagues addresses the increasingly important topic of the effects of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) by pharmaceutical companies. The authors claim that their results should be reassuring to “those concerned about potential adverse health care consequences of DTCA”. However, the study and analysis of the data are marred by several flaws that diminish the importance and relevance of the findings, including weakness in design, overgenerous interpretations, and failure to address key questions. Rather than informing the debate, the study amounts to little more than an advertisement for drug advertisements

Keywords:
Advertising* Drug Industry* Drug Utilization Evaluation Studies Humans Patient Participation* Physician's Practice Patterns Prescriptions, Drug Television United States