Beware Canadian Prescription Drug Web Sites Selling Counterfeit Meds

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Mechcatie
Keyword(s):  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Web Sites

Beliefs and Potential Use of Prescription Drug Information Sources

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (16) ◽  
pp. 1496-1500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin E. Hicks ◽  
Michael S. Wogalter
Keyword(s):  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Web Site ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Drug Information ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Perceived Ease Of Use ◽  
Potential Use

In recent years consumers are taking more interest in their health care, including having interest in the prescription drugs they take. This research examined people's beliefs and perceptions about using nine sources of prescription drug information. The sources investigated were: (a) physician, (b) pharmacist, (c) family or friend, (d) manufacturer's web site, (e) second-party web sites, (f) medical reference book, (g) manufacturer's consumer phone number, (h) print ads, and (i) television ads. Two hundred thirteen persons were asked to make ratings of these sources according to (1) the likelihood that they would use each source, (2) perceived ease of use to obtain information from each source, and (3) how complete the information would be in providing prescription drug information. The results indicate that the pharmacist and physician sources were in general given significantly higher ratings across all of three dimensions than all the other sources. The two next highly rated sources were family or friend and manufacturer's web site. Television and print ads were rated the lowest among all of the sources. Implications of these results are discussed with emphasis on the Internet as a growing source of prescription drug information.

scholarly journals Prescription drug brand Web sites: Guidance where none exists

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lewis Glinert
Keyword(s):  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Outward Appearance ◽  
Regulatory Guidance ◽  
The Many ◽  
Direct To Consumer Advertising ◽  
Brand Information

This paper applies insights from linguistics and discourse analysis to prescription drug brand Web sites, with special reference to the 100 top-selling drugs. Such sites give the outward appearance of being a place to go for straightforward information about a specific brand. In reality, they present a confused mix of brand information, health information and hype, muddled organization, and poor indication of authority, creating an imbalance between benefit and risk content. In so doing, they breach the letter and spirit of the regulations governing direct-to-consumer advertising, which the FDA has by default applied to such Web sites but which were not designed for this special type of discourse. The many communicative difficulties proven to be caused by Web sites in general, in particular for the elderly and less literate, also pose ethical problems. A rethinking of the verbal and visual design of these drug sites is needed -- and new regulatory guidance, for which this paper offers recommendations. At stake is not just the quality of health information at brand drug sites but also their credibility. Type: Original Research

Tools and Resources: Web Sites of Interest

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 6-8
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Brigham
Keyword(s):  
Informed Consent ◽  
Physical Examination ◽  
Functional Status ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Satisfaction Survey ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Diagnostic Studies ◽  
Physician Relationship ◽  
Complete History

Abstract The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), Fifth Edition, explains that independent medical evaluations (IMEs) are not the same as impairment evaluations, and the evaluation must be designed to provide the data to answer the questions asked by the requesting client. This article continues discussions from the September/October issue of The Guides Newsletter and examines what occurs after the examinee arrives in the physician's office. First are orientation and obtaining informed consent, and the examinee must understand that there is no patient–physician relationship and the physician will not provide treatment bur rather will send a report to the client who requested the IME. Many physicians ask the examinee to complete a questionnaire and a series of pain inventories before the interview. Typical elements of a complete history are shown in a table. An equally detailed physical examination follows a meticulous history, and standardized forms for reporting these findings are useful. Pain and functional status inventories may supplement the evaluation, and the examining physician examines radiographic and diagnostic studies. The physician informs the interviewee when the evaluation is complete and, without discussing the findings, asks the examinee to complete a satisfaction survey and reviews the latter to identify and rectify any issues before the examinee leaves. A future article will discuss high-quality IME reports.

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