Impact of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) on patient health-related behaviors and issues

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The pharmaceutical industry spends billions of dollars annually on direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA). Patient perspectives on the impact of televised DTCA on health-related behaviors and issues were assessed by means of a 68-question survey. 58.6% of respondents believed that DTCA allowed consumers to have a more active role in managing their health. However, 27.6% felt DTCA caused confusion, and an alarming 17.8% of respondents stopped taking their medication because of concerns about serious side effects mentioned in DTCA. Overall, participants believed DTCA plays a useful role in health self-management; however, a considerable percentage thought that the cost outweighs the benefits.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)42-55
Number of pages14
JournalHealth Marketing Quarterly
Volume26
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2009

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • General Health Professions
  • Marketing

Keywords

  • Direct-to-consumer advertising
  • Pharmaceutical industry
  • Pharmaceutical marketing
  • Survey
  • Television advertising

Disciplines

  • Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Marketing

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