What Are the Public Health Effects of Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertising?

What Are the Public Health Effects of Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertising?

BACKGROUND TO THE DEBATE Only two industrialized countries, the United States and New Zealand, allow direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription medicines, although New Zealand is planning a ban. The challenge for these governments is ensuring that DTCA is more beneficial than harmful. Proponents of DTCA argue that it helps to inform the public about available treatments and stimulate...

Effects of Direct-to-consumer Drug Advertising

Consumer-directed prescription drug advertising: effects on public health.

Direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising.

Web Exclusive: Consumers' Reports On The Health Effects Of Direct-To-Consumer Drug Advertising

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 act...