Healthy Skepticism Library item: 14772

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

Khanfar N, Loudon D, Sircar-Ramsewak F.
FDA Direct-to-Consumer Advertising for Prescription Drugs: What Are Consumer Preferences and Response Tendencies?
Health Mark Q. 2007; 24:(1/2):77-91
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19042521

Abstract:

The effect of direct-to-consumer (DTC) television advertising of prescription medications is a growing concern of the United States (U.S.) Congress, state legislatures, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This research study was conducted in order to examine consumers’ perceived preferences of DTC television advertisement in relation to “reminder,”“help-seeking,” and “product-claim” FDA-approved advertisement categories. An additional objective was to examine the influence of DTC television advertising of prescription drugs on consumers’ tendency to seek more information about the medication and/or the medical condition. The research indicates that DTC television drug ads appear to be insufficient for consumers to make informed decisions. Their mixed perception and acceptance of the advertisements seem to influence them to seek more information from a variety of medical sources