title: Possible impact of the NHK special questioning cancer treatment in Japan on clinicians' prescriptions of oxaliplatin.
abstract: Medical information through media may influence physicians' prescriptions of medication. The Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) aired on April and May 2005, a special program called 'Questioning Cancer Treatment in Japan', covering oxaliplatin. We investigated potential impact of this program on prescriptions, utilizing a post-marketing clinical trial monitoring of all patients receiving oxaliplatin. The post-marketing clinical trial reached the target sample size of 1200 by the 4th week of May, 44 weeks sooner than anticipated. The newly registered numbers of facilities and patients exhibited a bimodal peak in April and June. The viewer rating of NHK special was 8.3%, whereas three national newspapers and one weekly magazine took up the minor articles of oxaliplatin. In July 2007, 405 clinicians sent a written opinion to NHK, stating 'NHK special invites misperceptions and confusions to public.' NHK special might have had an impact on clinicians' prescriptions of oxaliplatin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine and Hospital, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yuji
authors.forename: Toshihito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Fumitaka
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beppu
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kusumi
authors.forename: Tamae
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamaki
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: Mutsuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onishi
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kami
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008402:Mass Media; D008495:Medical Oncology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077150:Oxaliplatin
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin