Healthy Skepticism Library item: 2387

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

Jeffords JM.
Direct-to-consumer drug advertising: you get what you pay for.
Health Aff (Millwood) 2004 Jan-Jun; Suppl:
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/reprint/hlthaff.w4.253v1

Abstract:

Between 1997 and 2001 spending on direct-to-consumer (DTC) drug advertising more than doubled. Opinions differ as to whether and to what extent DTC advertising benefits the doctor-patient relationship. Some analysts argue that the current regulatory regime is sufficient, others advocate a stricter enforcement, and still others promote an outright ban. An alternative may be to use the purchasing power of the federal government to require the inclusion of comparative quality data, thus creating a basis for more informed consumer choice. This approach could create incentives for the pharmaceutical industry to adjust spending on DTC advertising while avoiding “big government” interference with commercial free speech.

Keywords:
Publication Types: Comment MeSH Terms: Advertising/economics* Advertising/methods* Consumer Participation* Drug Industry Humans Pharmaceutical Preparations* United States Substances: Pharmaceutical Preparations