> Not sure I understand. The survey was asking doctors if they think patients understand the risks from seeing the ad. Doctors think they do.
Plainly, you read a different study than I.
This direct quote, directly disagrees with you:
> Seventy-eight percent of physicians believe their patients understand the possible benefits of the drug very well or somewhat, compared to 40 percent who believe their patients understand the possible risks, and 65 percent believe DTC ads confuse patients about the relative risks and benefits of prescription drugs.
Again, that means:
* 60% of doctors believe patients do not understand possible risks.
* 65% of doctors believe DTC ads confuse patients about risks and benefits.
Doctors do not believe that patients understand risks from seeing the ad.
> If the patient then decides the risks are worth it, and the doctor thinks the drug will help, the doctor writes a prescription.
Again, the study disagrees with your conclusions here. Here's another direct quote:
> and many physicians felt some pressure to prescribe something when patients mentioned DTC ads.
The doctor feels the need to prescribe it, based purely on the fact that the patient mentioned an ad. The doctor may or may not think the risks are worth it, but they feel the need to sign off on any drug simply because the patient saw an ad.
> But patients then need to go and talk to the doctor, who should then clarify the risks since they are the medical professional, not the patient.
And more than half of patients are turning up to doctors, confused about the benefits and risks of the drug they saw in an ad. The doctor tries to clarify the risks, but feel the need to give something to the patient anyway.
The only benefit of the advert here, is that they are actually talking to a doctor. But they don't understand the benefits of the drug, and they don't understand the risks of the drug, they just want something they saw on TV.
Plainly, you read a different study than I.
This direct quote, directly disagrees with you:
> Seventy-eight percent of physicians believe their patients understand the possible benefits of the drug very well or somewhat, compared to 40 percent who believe their patients understand the possible risks, and 65 percent believe DTC ads confuse patients about the relative risks and benefits of prescription drugs.
Again, that means:
* 60% of doctors believe patients do not understand possible risks.
* 65% of doctors believe DTC ads confuse patients about risks and benefits.
Doctors do not believe that patients understand risks from seeing the ad.
> If the patient then decides the risks are worth it, and the doctor thinks the drug will help, the doctor writes a prescription.
Again, the study disagrees with your conclusions here. Here's another direct quote:
> and many physicians felt some pressure to prescribe something when patients mentioned DTC ads.
The doctor feels the need to prescribe it, based purely on the fact that the patient mentioned an ad. The doctor may or may not think the risks are worth it, but they feel the need to sign off on any drug simply because the patient saw an ad.
> But patients then need to go and talk to the doctor, who should then clarify the risks since they are the medical professional, not the patient.
And more than half of patients are turning up to doctors, confused about the benefits and risks of the drug they saw in an ad. The doctor tries to clarify the risks, but feel the need to give something to the patient anyway.
The only benefit of the advert here, is that they are actually talking to a doctor. But they don't understand the benefits of the drug, and they don't understand the risks of the drug, they just want something they saw on TV.