How direct-to-consumer television advertising for osteoarthritis drugs affects physicians' prescribing behavior.
Concern about the potential pernicious effect of direct-to-consumer (DTC) drug advertising on physicians' prescribing patterns was heightened with the 2004 withdrawal of Vioxx, a heavily advertised treatment for osteoarthritis. We examine how DTC advertising has affected physicians' prescribing behavior for osteoarthritis patients. We analyzed monthly clinical information on fifty-seven primary care practices during 2000-2002, matched to monthly brand-specific advertising data for local and network television. DTC advertising of Vioxx and Celebrex increased the number of osteoarthritis patients seen by physicians each month. DTC advertising of Vioxx increased the likelihood that patients received both Vioxx and Celebrex, but Celebrex ads only affected Vioxx use.
Bradford
W David
WD
Center for Health Economic and Policy Studies, Department of Health Administration and Policy, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA. bradfowd@musc.edu
Kleit
Andrew N
AN
Nietert
Paul J
PJ
Steyer
Terrence
T
McIlwain
Thomas
T
Ornstein
Steven
S
D000329:Advertising; D000068579:Celecoxib; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004345:Drug Industry; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013450:Sulfones / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013690:Television; D014481:United States
D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D007783:Lactones; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; D000068579:Celecoxib