Healthy Skepticism Library item: 414

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

Brodie M, Levitt L.
Drug advertising: the right or wrong prescription for our ailments?
Nat Rev Drug Discov 2002 Nov; 1:(11):916-20
http://www.nature.com/nrd/journal/v1/n11/abs/nrd943_fs.html;jsessionid=E0C11BC508A8240CE88E82D780D4A2C9

Abstract:

As the cost of health care—particularly prescription drugs—is rising at a rate that has not been seen in a decade, the United States finds itself once again searching for new solutions to what has, until now, been an intractable problem. Drug advertising, which has almost become part of the social fabric in the United States, is an appealing and visible target. Critics point to pharmaceutical companies boosting profits by pitching pills, whereas advocates talk of empowering patients with information. With a topic that is so dominated by money and politics, it is sometimes hard to tell who is correct.

Keywords:
*analysis Canada direct-to-consumer advertising DTCA consumer behaviour & knowledge attitude toward promotion doctors pharmacies and pharmacists industry perspective quality of information ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: INDUSTRY ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: REGULATORS AND GOVERNMENT EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: AUTONOMOUS BODIES REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION