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The number of consumers
who are prompted to ask their doctor about a specific drug
after viewing a drug ad remains unchanged, according to a
survey.
Although some 60
percent of consumers said they remembered seeing a prescription
drug ad in the last 12 months--a 47 percent increase from
year-over-year--the proportion who said direct-to-consumer
(DTC) advertising played a role in their discussing the drug
with their doctors remained at about 20 percent for the past
three survey periods.
According to the
survey, individuals who suffer from particular medical conditions
are more likely to be influenced by DTC advertising than the
average consumer. For instance, 34 percent of heartburn and
indigestion sufferers reported that they asked their doctors
about an advertised drug.
Viagra, Pfizer's
erectile dysfunction drug, had the highest level of ad recall,
with 95 percent of participants saying they recalled seeing
an ad for the drug in 2002.
Ranking 10th was
GlaxoSmithKline's antidepressant, Paxil, which had an ad recall
of 78 percent among its buyers. Zoloft, Pfizer's depression
drug, showed the largest increase in recall, moving from 23rd
place in 2001 to 8th place in 2002.
The survey is based
on prescription and over-the-counter purchase data collected
from a sample of U.S. households.
Reuters
Health March 25, 2003
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