title: Impact of commercial marketing on patient demand.
abstract: This pilot study attempts to determine the impact of commercial direct-to-consumer advertising on the incidence of patients requesting medication for urinary incontinence by brand name. Of 310 patients interviewed prior to urodynamics, 237 (76%) sought treatment after seeing related commercials. After testing, 119 (50.2%) were prescribed the advertised drug for detrusor instability. Fifty-nine (24.8%) were diagnosed with intrinsic sphincter deficiency and were recommended anticholinergics, collagen injections, or surgery. Forty-one (17.2%) men were found to have bladder outlet obstruction, but only four were prescribed the advertised drug. Three (1.2%) were recommended intermittent catheterization along with the advertised drug and 15 (6.6%) had various other treatments. The results suggest that 50% of those seeking treatment were not candidates for the medication advertised.
authors: Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Meade-D'Alisera
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Merriweather
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Wentland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014563:Urodynamics