What Are the Public Health Effects of Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertising?
2006
Public Health Effects of Drug Advertising
Sample size: 80000000
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Richard L. Kravitz
Primary Institution: University of California Davis
Hypothesis
Could a moratorium on direct-to-consumer advertising prevent public health tragedies like Vioxx?
Conclusion
A moratorium on drug advertising could have allowed for better monitoring of drug safety before widespread marketing.
Supporting Evidence
- Vioxx was prescribed to more than 80 million patients before its withdrawal.
- Up to 16 per 1,000 patients may have suffered serious health issues due to Vioxx.
Takeaway
If drug companies didn't advertise directly to people, doctors could have made better decisions about safety before the drugs were sold widely.
Participant Demographics
Patients who received Vioxx prescriptions.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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