One Doc's Opinion: Regarding Direct to Consumer Drug Marketing

Dr. Thompson,

  I generally hate the drug commercials on tv.  Beyond the allergy medications, which seemed to start the whole phenomenon, of particular annoyance are the erectile disfunction commercials.  However, if the commercials generally create more conversations between patients and doctors, it's difficult to argue against them. 

I enjoy your posts.... Keep 'em coming!

Shoney

The article written by Dr. J. Thompson is a breath of fresh air.  Too often patients are reluctant to bring up drugs or holistic treatments they may have heard or read about outside of the doctor's office. To entertain questions about such treatments can only make the doctor/patient relatiionship stronger,  more effective,  and more honest (no more holding back info on the herbal remedies one might be taking).  Bravo Dr. Thompson!

Pamela W

Though direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising has often been considered emotive and noneducational, after reading Dr. Thompson's article, it is clear that the benefits outweigh the possible negative effects. If advertising paves the way for honest and open doctor/patient communication, there is much to be gained. Information itself is not the end product, but the beginning of an opportunity to seek a fresh understanding of which medications address the individual needs of each patient.

I really enjoyed your article on the effects of advertising allergy medications! Personally, I  think it is too complicated of an issue to determine whether advertising such medications is an overall benefit or loss(each advertisement has a different effect depending on the personality and preferences of the patient,even though you noticed patients didn't make aggressive requests for medications they heard of, perhaps many patients didn't speak up about their true feelings or maybe the patients who do want those "popular" medicines stop coming to appointments because they felt they knew the remedy and found a way to get the medication without consultations), I also don't think enough consumer/patient studies have been conducted on the effects of advertising allergy medications. I believe having patients that are more educated about their possible remedies can be a benefit to the doctor, it definitely saves the time in explaining each and every alternative. However, I wonder if more and more people are walking around thinking they can be there own doctor. Will people begin to trust more of what a commercial says than what their doctor recommends...advertising can be manipulative in making someone believe they need something they don't or that a particular product is the best for everyone no matter what the circumstance (after all each advertisement claims to be the "best solution").Also,will patients think their doctor is leading them astray or is incompetent by suggesting a medication they haven't seen an advertisement for? While advertising can help build a relationship, I also think it can hurt the trust and reliability component of many current and future doctor/patient relationships. That could also hurt the business for doctors because patients no longer find the need for a doctor when "the best solution" and how to get it without physically going to doctor is easily accessible.

Let me know what you think!

-Necey