Matthew P Gray1, Alvaro San-Juan-Rodriguez2, Nemin Chen3, Chester B Good4, Inmaculada Hernandez5. 1. Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: mpg30@pitt.edu. 2. Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: als440@pitt.edu. 3. Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: nec58@pitt.edu. 4. Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for High-Value Health Care, Insurance Services Division, UPMC Health Plan, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: goodcb2@upmc.edu. 5. Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: inh3@pitt.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs impacts patients' requests for medications, and clinician prescribing. However, the impact of DTCA during the Super Bowl has not been previously described. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the impact of prescription drug DTCA during the Super Bowl on drug utilization using 2014-2016 Medicare data. METHODS: Efinaconazole was advertised during Super Bowls XLIX (02/01/2015) and L (02/07/2016). The number of prescriptions for efinaconazole and for a comparator drug, tavaborole, were calculated in 31-day intervals from July 2014-December 2016. Interrupted time-series analysis models were created to test changes in trends of prescriptions for efinaconazole and tavaborole. RESULTS: Following Super Bowl XLIX, the number of prescriptions per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries increased by 91% for efinaconazole, and 275% for tavaborole. After Super Bowl L, the number of prescriptions increased significantly for efinaconazole (p-value<0.001), but not for tavaborole (p = 0.70). Interrupted time-series analyses estimated that, in the absence of DTCA during Super Bowl XLIX, prescriptions for efinaconazole would have increased by 40%, instead of the observed 91%. For tavaborole, prescriptions would have increased by 90% instead of 275%. CONCLUSIONS: DTCA during the Super Bowl resulted in sharp increases in utilization of the prescription drug advertised, which supports further regulation of DTCA.
BACKGROUND: Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs impacts patients' requests for medications, and clinician prescribing. However, the impact of DTCA during the Super Bowl has not been previously described. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the impact of prescription drug DTCA during the Super Bowl on drug utilization using 2014-2016 Medicare data. METHODS:Efinaconazole was advertised during Super Bowls XLIX (02/01/2015) and L (02/07/2016). The number of prescriptions for efinaconazole and for a comparator drug, tavaborole, were calculated in 31-day intervals from July 2014-December 2016. Interrupted time-series analysis models were created to test changes in trends of prescriptions for efinaconazole and tavaborole. RESULTS: Following Super Bowl XLIX, the number of prescriptions per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries increased by 91% for efinaconazole, and 275% for tavaborole. After Super Bowl L, the number of prescriptions increased significantly for efinaconazole (p-value<0.001), but not for tavaborole (p = 0.70). Interrupted time-series analyses estimated that, in the absence of DTCA during Super Bowl XLIX, prescriptions for efinaconazole would have increased by 40%, instead of the observed 91%. For tavaborole, prescriptions would have increased by 90% instead of 275%. CONCLUSIONS: DTCA during the Super Bowl resulted in sharp increases in utilization of the prescription drug advertised, which supports further regulation of DTCA.
Authors: Matthew Daubresse; Susan Hutfless; Yoonsang Kim; Rachel Kornfield; Dima M Qato; Jidong Huang; Kay Miller; Sherry L Emery; G Caleb Alexander Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2015-07-01 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Hsien-Yen Chang; Irene Murimi; Matthew Daubresse; Dima M Qato; Sherry L Emery; G Caleb Alexander Journal: Med Care Date: 2017-08 Impact factor: 2.983