Four years and still going strong. It’s hard to believe. If you told me when we first launched Clinical Correlations that we would have posted over 700 articles tackling a potpourri of internal medicine, average 1000 hits/day with readers from all over the world, I would have laughed at the ridiculousness of the thought. But here we are four years later and I am so proud of all we have accomplished. I’m frequently asked about our motivation-and to be honest, I never give the…
By Ishmeal Bradley
Faculty Peer Reviewed
In the first two parts of this article, we explored the historical and legal contexts of direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising, the effects of these ads on prescribing behavior, and the economic incentives to advertise. In this final installment, we will examine what patients and physicians really think about these ads and offer one possible way to minimize the potentially harmful effects of DTC advertising.
Perceptions about DTC Advertising
Patient perceptions…
By Ishmeal Bradley
Faculty Peer Reviewed
In the first installment, we looked at the history behind consumer advertising of prescription drugs. We also explored the concept of commercial free speech and why this form of advertising is legal. To fully appreciate the controversy about direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising, we must now examine the commercial effects of these ad campaigns. Do these ads really increase prescription volume and drug costs? Are both physicians and patients affected by the commercials they see…
By Ishmeal Bradley, MD
Faculty Peer Reviewed
Advertising is everywhere. That should come as no surprise to anyone who has lived in modern America. It is impossible to turn on the television, ride the subway, or even sort through the daily mail without coming across an ad for a new car, a soft drink, or the latest digital toy. These advertisements have only one goal: to entice you to buy their products. This is harmless enough when these ads…
