Healthy Skepticism Library item: 5053

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

Solhaug HR, Indermo H, Slordal L, Spigset O.
[Written drug advertisements--are they reliable?]
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2006 May 11; 126:(10):1314-7
http://www.tidsskriftet.no/pls/lts/pa_lt.visSeksjon?vp_SEKS_ID=1376195

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Drug advertisements affect the practice and continuous education of physicians. We assessed whether drug advertisements in Norway were in accordance with national regulations in the field. METHODS: All drug advertisements received by three general practitioners during a period of three months were collected. One advertisement for each of the 50 pharmaceutical products most frequently advertised was reviewed, available references obtained, and the information evaluated in relation to Norwegian regulations. RESULTS: A total of 294 advertisements for 77 different products were reviewed. The 50 chosen advertisements contained 191 reference citations, of which 93% were retrieved. The originator of the advertisement in question provided 72% of the references we asked for. We identified 262 promotional claims for which the regulations require a reference citation. Of these, 135 (52%) did not comply with the regulations, including 15 (6%) that were false. CONCLUSION: Only half of the information presented in drug advertisements was correct and clinically relevant. Relatively few statements were false, but a considerable proportion of statements gave an excessively positive picture of the product; hence, in general, this kind of information has no value as a source of information.

Keywords:
Advertising*/legislation & jurisprudence Conflict of Interest Drug Industry Drug Information Services/legislation & jurisprudence Drug Information Services/standards* English Abstract Family Practice Humans Norway Physician's Practice Patterns