Issue Area - Direct-to-Consumer Advertising
Consumer Reports on the Health Effects of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs, by Joel S. Weissman, et al., Health Affairs Web Exclusive, February 2003
This paper reports the results of a study of the health behaviors and outcomes that result when patients initiate discussions with their doctors as a result of seeing a prescription drug ad. Consumers reported that DTCA-motivated discussions with physicians frequently result in new diagnoses for clinically important conditions, and the survey found no evidence to support concerns about adverse health consequences.
Growth in Use of Lipid-Lowering Therapies: Are We Targeting the Right Patients? by Robert W. Dubois, MD, PhD, et al., American Journal of Managed Care, Vol. 8, October 2002
This article looks at the appropriateness of statin use in 1997 (pre-DTCA guidance) and in 1999 (post-DTCA guidance). The conclusion is that although the number of people being treated with statins rose considerably from 1997 to 1999, there did not appear to be any shift towards less appropriate treatment.
The Public Health Impact of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs (Report to Funders), February 2003
This report contains more detailed findings from the report "Consumer Reports on the Health Effects of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs" (see above) and includes the survey questionnaire.
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