Pharmacy students' knowledge, attitudes, and evaluation of direct-to-consumer advertising.
OBJECTIVE
To assess pharmacy students' knowledge, attitudes, and evaluation of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA).


METHODS
A cross sectional, self-administered, 106-item survey instrument was used to assess first, second, and third professional year pharmacy students' knowledge about DTCA regulations, attitudes toward DTCA, and evaluation of DTC advertisements with different brief summary formats (professional labeling and patient labeling) and in different media sources (print and television).


RESULTS
One hundred twenty (51.3%) of the 234 students enrolled participated in the study. The mean percentage knowledge score was 48.7% +/- 12.5%. Based on the mean scores per item, pharmacy students had an overall negative attitude toward DTC advertisements. Students had an overall negative attitude toward television and print advertisements using the professional labeling format but an overall positive attitude toward the print advertisement using the patient labeling format.


CONCLUSIONS
Lectures discussing DTC advertising should be included in the pharmacy curriculum.
Naik
Rupali K
RK
College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. rnaik@salud.unm.edu
Borrego
Matthew E
ME
Gupchup
Gireesh V
GV
Dodd
Melanie
M
Sather
Mike R
MR
D000329:Advertising / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013339:Students, Pharmacy