Advertisements In Medical Journals Research Articles

Advertising in dermatology journals: Journals' and journal editors' policies, practices, and attitudes

Problems in some advertisements in medical journals, including dermatology journals, have been identified in various studies. Examples have included poorly supported claims, failure to balance claims of efficacy with potential adverse effects of a drug, and slogans that recommend prescribing a drug for groups of patients different from those assessed in a referenced study. We sought to assess dermatology journals' and dermatology journal editors' policies, practices, and attitudes toward prescription-medicine advertising in dermatology journals. We searched dermatology journals' paper copies and World Wide Web sites for statements of advertising policy and sent surveys to dermatology journal editors. Of 22 journals, 8 (36.4%) had an advertising policy published in a paper copy or a World Wide Web site. Of 17 editors (70.8%) from 17 journals (77.3%) who responded to the survey, 3 reported having an advertising policy; these policies were also identified in searches of paper copies or World Wide Web sites. Two editors whose journals each had a published policy reported not having one. In all, 7 editors (41.2%) reported that they or other physician members of the editorial board reviewed advertisements before publication in the previous year. A total of 8 editors (47.1%) agreed somewhat or strongly that advertisements in medical journals, including dermatology journals, generally present information that is accurate, and 12 (70.6%) agreed somewhat or strongly with the same statement regarding advertisements appearing in their own journal. In all, 12 editors (70.6%) agreed somewhat or strongly that advertisements should be reviewed for accuracy by the editorial staff before publication, and 3 (17.6%) agreed somewhat or strongly that advertisements should be reviewed for accuracy before publication in a peer-review process similar to that used for submitted manuscripts. This study did not assess processes by which editors or other members of editorial or publishing staffs review advertisements before publication. Policies, practices, and attitudes toward advertising vary among dermatology journals and dermatology journal editors. Journals, especially those without a policy, should consider establishing policies to separate and, therefore, minimize conflicts of interest between editorial and business aspects of publication.

Implied narratives of medical practice in learning-for-doing texts: a simulation semantics approach to rhetorical analysis

The functional interdependence of word, image, narration, and reason is recognized as a fundamental condition of modern-day persuasion, yet a substantial gap still exists in our understanding of how static textual elements interact to generate dynamic, persuasive narratives. This article attempts to narrow that gap in understanding through the development of a simulation semantics approach to rhetorical analysis as applied to print advertisements in medical journals. Located within the broader field of cognitive linguistics, simulation semantics is a theory of linguistic meaning based on the hypothesis that language users run mental simulations of perceptual and motor content of experiences which distribute inferences from these simulations during language comprehension and production. Using the perspectives and methods of conceptual blending, a programmatic model of meaning construction developed by Fauconnier and Turner (2002) and elaborated by many associates (e.g. Brandt and Brandt, 2002; Coulson and Oakley, 2000), the article attempts to show how a simulation semantic approach can lead to cognitively plausible explanations of how persuasion works in a genre of print advertisements aimed at physicians and medical practitioners I call learning-for-doing. In addition, I seek to further refine conceptual blending theory as an interpretive framework by arguing for the need to incorporate the notion of a grounding space as well as the need to distinguish between conceptual blending and conceptual integration.

Conflicts between commercial and scientific interests in pharmaceutical advertising for medical journals.

In 1992, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, published a study on the scientific merit and validity of pharmaceutical advertisements in medical journals. Their results led them to conclude, provocatively, that many pharmaceutical advertisements contained deficiencies in areas in which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had established explicit standards of quality. This article provides a detailed account of third-party reactions to the study following its publication in the Annals of Internal Medicine, as well as the implications for those involved, including the authors, editors, and publisher. The increasingly diverging interests between medical journal editors and publishers are also discussed and highlighted by two recent cases of editors' departures from prominent general-interest medical journals.

Accuracy of pharmaceutical advertisements in medical journals

Accuracy of pharmaceutical advertisements in medical journals

Accuracy of pharmaceutical advertisements in medical journals

Because of the effect of the ever-growing evidence-based medicine movement on prescribing behaviour of doctors, the pharmaceutical industry incorporates bibliographical references to clinical trials that endorse their products in their advertisements. We aimed to assess whether the references about efficacy, safety, convenience, or cost of antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs included in advertisements supported the promotional claims. We assessed all advertisements for antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs published in six Spanish medical journals in 1997 that had at least one bibliographical reference. Two pairs of investigators independently reviewed the advertisements to see whether the studies quoted to endorse the advertising messages supported the corresponding claims. We identified 264 different advertisements for antihypertensive drugs and 23 different advertisements for lipid-lowering drugs. We recorded at least one reference in 31 advertisements in the antihypertensive group and at least one reference in every seven advertisements in the lipid-lowering group, providing a total of 125 promotional claims with references. We could not retrieve 23 (18%) references from monographic works and non-published data on file. 79 (63%) of the 125 references were from journals with a high impact factor; 84 (82%) of the 102 references retrieved were from randomised clinical trials. In 45 claims (44.1%; 95% CI 34.3-54.3) the promotional statement was not supported by the reference, most frequently because the slogan recommended the drug in a patient group other than that assessed in the study. Doctors should be cautious in assessment of advertisements that claim a drug has greater efficacy, safety, or convenience, even though these claims are accompanied by bibliographical references to randomised clinical trials published in reputable medical journals and seem to be evidence-based.

Economic messages in prescription drug advertisements in medical journals.

The extent to which pharmaceutical companies promote the economic advantages of their products in advertisements in medical journals, and whether such claims are supported by evidence, has not been quantified. Our objectives were to examine how often prescription drug advertisements in leading medical journals contain economic messages, and to determine the types of promotional claims made and whether supporting evidence is provided. All prescription drug advertisements appearing in six leading general medical and specialty journals in 3 selected months annually from 1990 to 1999 were reviewed. Using a standard data collection form, two reviewers examined each ad for economic content-including mention of the drug's price, value, cost saving, or cost-effectiveness. Economic messages appeared in 237 (11.1%) of the 2144 advertisements examined. Proportion of ads with economic content has increased over time (P = 0.003). Most frequently, economic ads contained statements that drugs were "less expensive" or "cost less" than alternative treatments (50.6% of economic ads). Supporting evidence for economic claims was clearly reported in 63.7% of cases, and typically referred to published drug prices rather than more detailed economic analysis. Ads for calcium channel blocking agents and ACE inhibitors frequently contained economic messages. Economic messages about prescription drugs are used in advertisements in leading medical journals and their frequency may be rising. Physicians should be aware of this phenomenon, and its potential impact on their prescribing decisions. More scrutiny of the supporting evidence underlying economic claims by the medical community and regulators may be needed.

Surviving Manic Depression: A Manual on Bipolar Disorder for Patients, Families, and Providers

Surviving Manic Depression: A Manual on Bipolar Disorder for Patients, Families, and Providers

QL4: QUALITY OF LIFE MESSAGES IN PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADVERTISEMENTS IN LEADING MEDICAL JOURNALS, 1990-99

OBJECTIVES: The use of health-related quality of life (HRQL) claims in drug promotions is under active discussion by the pharmaceutical industry, the FDA, and other stakeholders. However, the extent to which pharmaceutical companies have previously promoted HRQL messages in advertisements in medical journals, and the nature of those messages, has not been quantified. METHODS: We performed a content analysis of all pharmaceutical advertisements appearing in three general medical journals (AIM, JAMA, and NEJM), and three specialty journals (Circulation, Gastroenterology, and Neurology) in January, July, and October annually from 1990–1999. Two reviewers analyzed each advertisement for the presence and type of HRQL content, and for supporting evidence. We distinguished explicit HRQL claims, which used words, such as “quality of life or “patient satisfaction,” from implicit claims, which we defined broadly as pictures implying improved physical, emotional/mental, or social functioning. RESULTS: We judged that HRQL messages appeared in 520 (24.3%) of 2142 advertisements examined. Advertisements with HRQL content increased from 1990–94 to 1995–99 (19.9% vs. 29.6%, p 100%, because a single ad could contain multiple messages). CONCLUSIONS: Advertisements conveying HRQL messages are used frequently by drug manufacturers in medical journals, and are increasing over time. In the future, researchers should better define HRQL, and probe more deeply into what comprises substantiating evidence, perhaps by incorporating the concept of “patient-reported outcomes.”

Do drug advertisements in Russian medical journals provide essential information for safe prescribing?

To examine pharmaceutical advertisements in medical journals for their adequacy of information. We selected a convenience sample of 5 major Russian medical journals covering different fields of medicine and different types of publications. We evaluated all the ads in all the issues of the selected journals published during 1998. We counted the number of appearances of trade, chemical, and generic names; indication and contraindication; pharmacologic group; safety warnings; and references. Counts in all categories were aggregated for each advertiser. There were 397 placements of 207 distinct advertisements. Only 154 placements (40%) mentioned the generic name, 177 (45%) mentioned any indication, 42 (11%) mentioned safety warnings and contraindications, 21 (5%) warned about drug interactions, and 8 (2%) provided references. The 6 companies responsible for the most ads on average provided less information than the other companies. Almost none of the drug ads published in Russian medical journals provide the basic information required for appropriate prescribing. This is despite the fact that in Russia, ads that omit essential information and that could lead consumers to misunderstandings about an advertised product are illegal. The arrival of drug advertising in Russia has brought little information and has been potentially damaging.

(Mis)information on drugs: the double standard practiced by pharmaceutical companies

Different factors have been identified as influencing drug prescribers. Some studies emphasize the role played by sources of information available to physicians. Reports have been published on the influence of marketing strategies on these health professionals. Such strategies include advertisements in medical journals, sales representatives, free samples, leaflets, distribution of gifts and prizes, etc. The research reported here aimed to identify information provided by a commonly used Brazilian prescription handbook, the Dicionário de Especialidades Farmacêuticas (DEF), in relation to the 44 most frequently sold pharmaceutical products in Brazil, using as parameters the WHO guidelines for information to be included in informative materials offered to physicians. The information was then compared to that included in the PDR (Physicians' Desk Reference) and USP-DI (Drug Information for the Health Care Professional) used by prescribers in the United States. The results showed lack of data in the Brazilian publication (contraindications, side effects, drug interaction), suggesting lack of reliability in prescription quality and thus in the ultimate utilization of drugs.

One more case of the double standard: discrepancies between drug information provided to Brazilian and American physicians

Several factors have been identified as exerting influences upon the physician prescribing behaviour. Some studies on this issue emphasize the role played by the sources of information available to physicians. A number of reports have been published on the influence of marketing strategies upon these professionals. Such strategies include advertisements in medical journals, detail-men, free samples, distribution of folders, leaflets and gifts, as well as support to congresses and symposia. The impact of the 'special' relationships that manufacturers cultivate with health authorities and physicians and considered opinion-makers should also not be underestimated. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of information provided by a widely-used Brazilian prescribing guide, the Dicionário de Especialidades Farmacêuticas(DEF) on the 44 best-selling pharmaceutical products in Brazil. WHO criteria for drug information were used as parameters of which information is of such outstanding importance that it should be included in any informative material offered to physicians. The information in the DEF was compared with that available for the same products in the PDR (Physicians' Desk Reference) and USP-DI (Drug Information for the Health Care Professional) used by prescribers in USA. Results show the absence of important data from the Brazilian manual, including contraindications, adverse effects and drug interactions. These findings suggest that poor quality information may potentially contribute to the irrational use of drugs. Copyright (c) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

La publicidad de los medicamentos: ¿riesgo o beneficio?

It is obvious how important is the role of the physicians on drugs consumption. On account of their intermediary in the procurement and consumption of medicines, the prescriber is the main focus of manufacturers' promotional activities aiming at increasing sales and profits although these activities often are disguised as a means of education or information. Many reports have been issued emphasizing the influence of commercial sources upon the prescription. This text reviews two of them -advertisements in medical journals and the representatives- arriving to the conclusion that first ones display informations that are biased and incomplete while the representative in fact acts as a sales agent. The professional sources of information for prescribers are also described being evaluated how far-reaching the sources referred can be.

Conflicts of interest Drug advertising corrupts journals

EDITOR, - In his editorial on the ethical problem of conflicts of interest and the BMJ Richard Smith refers to the New England Journal of Medicine leading the way with “its policies on conflict of interest.”1 He states that the editors of the American journal “have said that ‘most academic institutions and journals have not gone far enough in dealing with this problem'” and that this may be “still truer on [the British] side of the Atlantic.” The 3 March issue of the New England Journal of Medicine - a 93 page publication - contained 22 pages of drug advertisements. Notwithstanding the fact that the 2 April issue of the BMJ - a 63 page issue - contained 21 pages of pharmaceutical “offerings,” the New England Journal of Medicine hardly seems to be in a position to be in the vanguard of establishing ethical-categorical imperatives regarding the submission of articles to journals that may be funded or influenced by sources that are not impartial. This strikes me as being akin to the syndrome “do as I say and not as I behave.” Drug companies' advertisements in medical journals may pose an even greater threat to …

Users' guides to the medical literature

Medical practice is constantly changing. The rate of change is accelerating, and physicians can be forgiven if they often find it dizzying. How can physicians learn about new information and innovations, and decide how (if at all) they should modify their practice? Possible sources include summaries from the medical literature (review articles, practice guidelines, consensus statements, editorials, and summary articles in throwaway journals); consultation with colleagues who have special expertise; lectures; seminars; advertisements in medical journals; conversations with representatives from pharmaceutical companies; and original articles in journals and journal supplements. Each of these sources of information might be valuable, though each is subject to its own particular biases. 1,2 Problems arise when, as is often the case, these sources of information provide different suggestions about patient care. See also p 2093. Without a way of critically appraising the information they receive, clinicians are relatively helpless in deciding what new information

Women in advertisements in medical journals

To determine the images of women in picture advertisements, a stratified random sample of 32 medical journals, representing approximately 12% of medical journals published in the United States that are directed toward physicians in clinical practice, was subjected to content analysis. The sample consists of 209 different ads. The subjects of the ads included men, women, and children representing a variety of ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic groups. Notable, however, was the preponderance of Caucasian males pictured as physicians and the absence of women and people of color in this role. Women are pictured as 68.1% of consumers and men as 31.9%, a significant difference. Statistically significant differences also occur in the images of men and women as consumers. Most of the workers are men (68.2%), another significant difference. When women depicted are workers, they are secretaries and waitresses. Portrayals of women in medical advertisements continue to be stereotyped and outdated.

ADVERTISEMENTS IN MEDICAL JOURNALS = HIGHER COST OF MEDICATION

[The] function of advertising within learned journals is not to inform but to make possible lower subscription rates for a privileged segment of our population and to support journals in a fashion to which they would otherwise have no opportunity to become accustomed. It is no doubt true that subscription prices of some journals would be increased without advertising revenue; but this seems as slight a cost as truth has ever incurred. It is not much of a brave new world in which the costs of necessary information for physicians and scientists are made lower by higher prices of medications for the ill and in which impartial truth and shoddy contrivance rub shoulders in the heady atmosphere of intellectual work.

The content of advertisements in medical journals: distorting the image of women.

This study was designed to examine the content of advertisements in medical journals to determine if the images of women are different than those of men. The method for this investigation was content analysis of a stratified random sample of issues of selected medical journals that regularly include picture advertisements. Advertisements were analyzed according to criteria and characteristics derived from a review of the literature. Interrater reliability was computed as a function of agreements. The results indicate that readers of medical journals are still being exposed to images of women that are negative and outdated. Until portrayals of women are consistently positive and timely, the images can have a negative effect on the health care women receive.

DRUG ADVERTISING IN MEDICAL JOURNALS

One hundred different drug advertisements from each of seven leading medical journals have been assessed. Information about drug interactions, adverse reactions, mode of action, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and cost was seldom provided in UK journals. A requirement should exist that drug advertisements include such clinically important information. Only a few pharmaceutical companies are attempting to educate doctors through their marketing and promotional material in advertisements in medical journals.

Need for "counter-detailing" antibiotics

Selected antibiotic advertisements in medical journals are discussed to illustrate the misleading information that is often disseminated to physicians by the pharmaceutical industry. Laboratory and clinical data are presented to question the validity of selected advertisements which (1) encourage the use of Keflex for severe respiratory infections in children, (2) recommend the use of Keflex for the treatment of bacterial bronchitis, (3) suggest that high tissue penetration is a unique property of Vibramycin, (4) present pooled susceptability data which do not reflect microbial resistance patterns in the patient's hospital, (5) recommend twice-daily administration of Ancef for urinary tract infections but do not clearly state the potential danger of this regimen for other infections, (6) suggest that gentamicin should be given to adults in only two dosage sizes for the treatment of serious Gram-negative infections, and (7) lead the reader to assume that only women need to be treated for Trichomonas infections. It is suggested that as antibiotics are marketed, hospital therapeutics committees should evaluate their advantages and permit formulary additions for only those agents demonstrating increased efficacy, decreased toxicity or decreased cost. Pharmacists who monitor drug therapy can provide information to the physician which will increase his awareness of optimal antibiotic therapy.

ADVERTISEMENTS IN MEDICAL JOURNALS

ADVERTISEMENTS IN MEDICAL JOURNALS