• You must respond to at least two of your peers by extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts and supporting your opinion with a reference.

· Quotes “…” cannot be used at a higher learning level for your assignments, so sentences need to be paraphrased and referenced.

· Acceptable references include scholarly journal articles or primary legal sources (statutes, court opinions), journal articles, and books published in the last five years—no websites or videos to be referenced without prior approval.

Responses must be posted in APA format for Canvas to receive full grades. Automatic deduction of 10% if not completed.

Direct-to-Consumer Advertisement

Paula, Lynette

St. Thomas University

November 17, 2021

Direct-to-Consumer Advertisement

Direct to consumer advertising, or DTC advertising, by pharmaceutical corporations has recently become a source of significant concern in the advertising world. DTC advertising is defined as any promotional effort by a pharmaceutical company to present prescription drug information to the general public through the lay media, i.e., newspapers, periodicals, television, and radio. Today, it is a contentious issue gaining much of its momentum and exorbitant costs in the last decade.

In this case study, direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising undeniably influences patient attitudes, patient-provider communications, and, ultimately, medication use (Elfassy, Danho, Adibfar, & Lexchin, 2019). While consumers and physicians may have opposing views on direct-to-consumer advertising, pharmacists' habits and perspectives are also influenced by this phenomenon. When patients watch drug advertising on television, in newspapers, or other forms of broadcast media and have questions, many decide to consult their pharmacist about the medicine before going to the doctor.

The responsibility and honor of sustaining the public's well-being are shared equally by all health care industry members. As a result, both physicians and pharmaceutical corporations must adhere to the highest ethical standards. These criteria are based on four basic ideas that must continue to guide health care professionals: autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. Autonomy is granted to a patient when their right to make their own decisions is respected. This mentality might be troublesome when it comes to prescribed medications. Medication advertising frequently persuades people that they definitely must a drug to live the lifestyles they desire. This factor puts the onus on physicians and pharmacists to utilize their skills to improve the health of their patients consistently. As a result, this healthcare system level has been entrusted with becoming the most immediate upholders of Beneficence (AlShammari, Assiri, & Buraykan, 2020).

When it comes to justice and nonmaleficence, amoral spending distribution for major pharmaceutical corporations might benefit public health in ways other than tightening medicine efficacy and decreasing deceptive advertisements. Companies might enhance access to healthcare if they make such large profits. They might also create nutritional and fitness programs for the same audiences they are attracting with worthless medications. At the same time, they may reduce the cost of the medicine that is beneficial to survival, such as cancer medications. It is vital to remember that other countries with significantly smaller pharmaceutical industries have succeeded in sustaining their inhabitants' health.

When pharmaceutical firms prioritize profits before patient interests, they insult the devoted medical professionals who have committed their careers to serve the public good. Simultaneously, they are exploiting the confidence that customers have placed in the healthcare system. Adverse drug responses to prescription drugs are responsible for up to 100,000 fatalities per year. This figure considers preexisting health issues, yet it highlights the breadth of potential wrong medication responses.

In conclusion, if the pharmaceutical medication business is serious about safeguarding public health ethically, it must reform swiftly. Especially in light of the current situation of the US healthcare system, resolving the DTCA issue should be possible. Stricter regulation or complete prohibition of DTCA for prescription drugs would be in the public's best interests. Opponents who suggest that this would have a detrimental influence on public health should note that the United States presently ranks last in healthcare quality and efficiency.

References

AlShammari, M., Assiri, G., & Buraykan. (2020, March 20). The Impact of Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising on Public Knowledge of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Study on Over-the-Counter Proton Pump Inhibitors. Patient Preference and Adherence, 14(3), 635–642. doi:10.2147/PPA.S245391

Elfassy, D. M., Danho, S., Adibfar, A., & Lexchin, J. (2019, July 24). Direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medications: what the Canadian medical trainee needs to know. Canadian Medical Educational Journal, 10(3), e113–e116. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6681928/

Direct-to-Consumer Advertising

Finance Joseph

St. Thomas University

NUR-421-AP3

Professor Price

November 17, 2021

Direct-to-Consumer Advertising

            In the case study, several aspects of Prescription Drug Advertising within America are discussed. Some of these include measures to streamline and regulate the way advertisements are done (Gleeson & Menkes, 2018). The primary classification is based on individual advert characteristics and features. Another consideration of the regulation is the advert content and the primary target audience. Since the inception of this marketing method, advertisements have emerged to be one of the best methods since they can reach several targeted audiences through the numerous platforms available.  Through advertisements, there’s increased influence on drug purchasing, and the patterns of prescriptions can be said to have significantly changed, and the proceeds from the same have risen over the past few years.

Impact Observed in My Immediate Populations

            Judging from the populations I serve as a nurse, it is evident that direct-to-consumer advertising has impacted them both negatively and positively. However, it appears that much impact is on the negative (Gleeson & Menkes, 2018). For instance, since the main target of the advertisements is increasing sales, there is increased over-the-counter buying, which often leads to drug abuse or misuse. Also, the relationship between practitioners and their patients seems to have suffered from the increased advertisement. There is reduced interaction between the two, which may be disastrous, especially when some patients need to see the doctor physically.

            Also, from the populations I serve, there seem to be more prescriptions for over-the-counter medicines, which is the solution most practitioners have resulted in to salvage their institutions from suffering losses. They will give prescriptions mostly based on consumers’ demands and, frequently, financial ability. This means that the money factor is slowly creeping in and thus may lead to the development of resistant strains of the administered drugs since monitoring may not be as efficient as before (Gleeson & Menkes, 2018). The danger with this over the counter drugs, whose increase has been due to the advertisement, is that patients seek to manage their conditions rather than treat them to cure. This escalates the conditions such that managed conditions become serious and pose a risk to their entire well-being.

Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-Maleficence, and Justice of the practice.

            The four principles of nursing and patient handling are Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-Maleficence, and Justice, and should always be the focus of every medical practitioner (Parekh & Shrank, 2018). In the case of direct-to-consumer advertisement and the increasing over-the-counter medicines, these principles are not strictly adhered to, leading to a compromise in professional ethics and standards. This is not to mean that the practice is entirely unethical, but the greater extend is that several breaches are witnessed and cannot be avoided. For instance, when drugs are dispensed over the counter, it may lead to the production and selling of cheaper and substandard medications that will serve the many vested interests of the parties involved, especially those in it as a business (Parekh & Shrank, 2018).  Autonomy may not be adhered to since comprehensive information about the client may not be available outright.  One positive aspect of the direct t client advertisement is that it significantly promotes beneficence to clients since there is increased focus on patients’ health.

References