Question

Direct-to-consumer advertising:

Is defined as marketing directly to the end user of health care products and services

May adversely impact the physician-patient relationship

Is questioned regarding whether it induces inappropriate resource utilization

Received scrutiny as to whether it changes prescribing behaviors

All of these are correct.

Answer 1

Answer: All of these are correct.

Direct to consumer advertising is widely used in pharmaceutical industry. It is referred to as marketing of pharmaceutical products, medical devices and financial services directly to the patients who are the consumers.

Some of the cons of this marketing are:

• Misleading the patients
• Increasing the healthcare cost of the patient
• Increasing the total number of prescriptions
• Makes the patient to request the healthcare provider to prescribe certain medication which may not be medically sound and beneficial and costlier for the patient.
• Doctors feel pressured to prescribe certain medication requested by the patient.
• There is an increase in antibiotics resistance rate
• No drug safety because newer drugs are advertised without much trials.
• Advertisements don't show both the benefits and harms of the drugs.

answered by: anonymous