Hanna Toivianen1, Lauri Vuorenkoski, Elina Hemminki. 1. National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health STAKES, Health and Social Services, Helsinki, Finland. hanna.toiviainen@stakes.fi
Abstract
AIM: To study Finnish physicians' opinions of direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs (DTCA) and other drug information sources for patients. METHOD: A survey was sent to all working-aged physicians (n=16,698; response rate 85%). RESULTS: Almost all physicians were against full DTCA, but half would allow advertising indirectly via patients organisations or healthcare units; 18% were against all types of DTCA. Thirty-six percent generally considered drug advertisements to patients and consumers to be harmful or useless. CONCLUSION: Further discussion of DTCA and other means of disseminating drug information are needed.
AIM: To study Finnish physicians' opinions of direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs (DTCA) and other drug information sources for patients. METHOD: A survey was sent to all working-aged physicians (n=16,698; response rate 85%). RESULTS: Almost all physicians were against full DTCA, but half would allow advertising indirectly via patients organisations or healthcare units; 18% were against all types of DTCA. Thirty-six percent generally considered drug advertisements to patients and consumers to be harmful or useless. CONCLUSION: Further discussion of DTCA and other means of disseminating drug information are needed.