Healthy Skepticism Library item: 1800

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

Weissman JS, Blumenthal D, Silk AJ, Zapert K, Newman M, Leitman R.
Consumers' reports on the health effects of direct-to-consumer drug advertising.
Health Aff (Millwood) 2003 Jan-Jun; Suppl:
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/reprint/hlthaff.w3.82v1

Abstract:

We conducted a national telephone survey about health care experiences associated with direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs. Among the 35 percent of our sample who had a physician visit during which DTCA was discussed, 25 percent received a new diagnosis, of which 43 percent were considered high priority according to authoritative sources. More than half also reported actions taken by their physician other than prescribing the advertised drug. Despite concerns about DTCA’s negative consequences, we found no differences in health effects between patients who took advertised drugs and those who took other prescription drugs.

Keywords:
Adult Advertising* Aged Drug Industry/economics* Drug Utilization/statistics & numerical data* Health Care Surveys Humans Middle Aged Patient Participation* Physician's Practice Patterns/statistics & numerical data* Physician-Patient Relations Prescriptions, Drug/economics Prescriptions, Drug/statistics & numerical data Questionnaires Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't United States