Healthy Skepticism Library item: 16217

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 NM, Polen HH, Clauson KA.
Influence on Consumer Behavior: The Impact of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising on Medication Requests for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Social Anxiety Disorder.
Health Commun 2009 Jul-Aug; 14:(5):451-60
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/10810730903032978

Abstract:

A 68-question Internet survey was used to determine the impact of televised direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) on consumer-initiated medication changes for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD). Of the 427 respondents, 10% that viewed DTCA for GERD and 6% that viewed DTCA for SAD reported that they subsequently initiated a conversation with their physician. Nearly half of respondents, 47.4% for GERD and 40% for SAD, reported that a change in therapy occurred as a direct result of these discussions. Televised DTCA for these two drug classes can have a significant impact on patient-initiated prescription requests.