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Most TV Drug Ads Minimize Information About Side Effects

A new University of Georgia study has determined that most prescription drug ads do not present a fair balance of information when it comes to the risk of side effects.

The average 60-second ad contains less than 8 seconds of side effect disclaimers, and the average 30-second ad has less than 4.4 seconds of disclaimers. Most 15-second ads have no disclaimers at all.

According to the study’s author, the problem is compounded by the fact that the information is often presented in a way that people aren’t likely to comprehend or even pay attention to. Almost all of the ads disclosed side effects solely in voice-over, with only 2.2 percent adding a disclosure in text form.



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Article's Comment     ( 17 Comments )
 
 
 +12 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY PepperR23   
  
[ Joined on 06/06 ]
[ Posted on January 07, 2008 ]
Post Reply
I now press the mute button whenever a drug commercial is aired or I change the station.  However, the mute button is more effective as whenever I change the station there is yet another drug commercial to be found.  It is particularly disheartening when there are so many ED commercials aired during the family hour.
 

 +13 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Bridestein   
  
[ Joined on 12/06 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on January 07, 2008 ]
 
What in the heck is going on? We told men it was okay to cry and encouraged them to express their feelings and before you know it they started waxing their chests. Next they started dousing themselves with cologne, getting manicures, facials and going to hair stylists.
Now it seems they are rushing out to get electrolysis on their arms and legs (I wish I were kidding) and can't get erections without taking a pill.
Is this the cumulative effect of pervasive soy or is nature compensating as women become more independent?
Men - forget the designer fragrances - nothing smells more masculine than two-stroke diesel exhaust. Mmmm........

 +12 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY New to Natural   
  
[ Joined on 11/07 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on January 07, 2008 ]
 
My daughter's only a year and a half - I dread the day when she asks "Mom, what's Erectile Dysfunction?"

 +8 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY energy   
  
[ Joined on 08/07 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on January 08, 2008 ]
 
Bridestein:  Would you recommend "essence of dirtbike", or "au de chainsaw?"  Perhaps "mariner's musk" (2 stroke outboard)?.

As far as what is going on, maybe you answered your own question:  "We told men it was OK to cry and encouraged them to express their feelings."  OOPS!  Did I type that out loud?

 +8 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Bridestein   
  
[ Joined on 12/06 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on January 07, 2008 ]
 
I meant to say two-stroke exhaust.
There is no such thing as two-stroke diesel and anyway diesel stinks. I hate messing up a perfectly good post like that, damnit.

 +8 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY EQ   
  
[ Joined on 03/07 ]
Author of the Article [