Pharma Strategy Blog

Commentary on Pharma & Biotech Oncology / Hematology New Product Development

The study found that the top ways consumers prefer to see prescription-drug risk disclosures presented online are:

  • Direct links to an independent website such as WebMD (32%).
  • Having a condensed version of risk disclosures available one click away (27%).
  • A direct link to a pharmaceutical company that provides the information (26%).
  • A direct link to a government website that provides the information (25%).

It seems that the lack of attention to risk information was highest in those 55+.

Interestingly, the chief research officer for the study by ORC guideline suggested that:

“As consumers utilize a wide variety of sources to learn about prescription medications, it may not be optimal for the FDA to require that pharmaceutical companies include the same details in each of the channels they use to communicate information about their prescription drug products.”

The value of independent websites in providing accurate and fair balanced information is growing in importance, especially as the study also demonstrated that only half (50%) pay attention to disclosures in print ads. Whether this is due to information overload or the small size of the print is, however, unclear.

Posted via web from sally church’s posterous

3 Responses to “Risk Info in Pharma Ads Ignored by 41% of Consumers”

  1. twitter.com/stales

    I stopped reading “risk information” on drugs long ago. The information is comical at times. I’ve never understood how companies could, in good faith, list contradicting side effects in their list of risks. May cause “weight loss, weight gain, high blood pressure, low blood pressure” etc.
    I’d rather here from real people that have used a drug to have a better understanding about their experience!
    Great post!!

  2. MaverickNY

    Hey Alicia!
    You and me both. Personally, I tend to only check the PI when it’s for someone else or side effects occur.
    My assumption is that all drugs have side effects of some sort so unless pills are yellow (allergic to yellow colouring and tartrazine), I don’t worry too much.

  3. MaverickNY

    Hey Alicia!
    You and me both. Personally, I tend to only check the PI when it’s for someone else or side effects occur.
    My assumption is that all drugs have side effects of some sort so unless pills are yellow (allergic to yellow colouring and tartrazine), I don’t worry too much.

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