According to a recent study (sponsored by Pfizer), direct-to-consumer advertising has fans within the African American physician community. A survey of 322 members of the National Medical Association (NMA), an African American medical
society, reveals that NMA members believe:
-DTC Advertising Has Positive Benefits: The majority of respondents said that drug advertising is beneficial for patients, physicians, managed care organizations, government health organizations and pharmaceutical companies
-DTC Advertising Is Educational: 80% of respondents said that it helps make patients aware of treatment options, alerts them to medical problems earlier (64%) and promotes better patient education about diseases (58%)
-DTC Advertising Enhances The Patient-Provider Relationship
However, there is more to this story. Many NMA physicians believe DTC ads negatively impact the patient-provider relationship because they:
-Make people think that medicines work better than they do (76%)
-Confuse people about the relative risks and benefits of medications (76%)
-Increase patient second-guessing or questions about a diagnosis (65%)
-Pressure physicians to prescribe a specific medicine (54%)
Overall, NMA docs think drug companies need to develop DTC ads that address the needs of the African American community.
The NMA submitted its research to the FDA’s DTC advertising docket.
society, reveals that NMA members believe: -DTC Advertising Has Positive Benefits: The majority of respondents said that drug advertising is beneficial for patients, physicians, managed care organizations, government health organizations and pharmaceutical companies
-DTC Advertising Is Educational: 80% of respondents said that it helps make patients aware of treatment options, alerts them to medical problems earlier (64%) and promotes better patient education about diseases (58%)
-DTC Advertising Enhances The Patient-Provider Relationship
However, there is more to this story. Many NMA physicians believe DTC ads negatively impact the patient-provider relationship because they:
-Make people think that medicines work better than they do (76%)
-Confuse people about the relative risks and benefits of medications (76%)
-Increase patient second-guessing or questions about a diagnosis (65%)
-Pressure physicians to prescribe a specific medicine (54%)
Overall, NMA docs think drug companies need to develop DTC ads that address the needs of the African American community.
The NMA submitted its research to the FDA’s DTC advertising docket.
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