Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26589655›Full record

ArticlePatient education and counseling2016

Communicating efficacy information based on composite scores in direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising.

Pamela A Williams, Amie C O'Donoghue, Helen W Sullivan, Jessica Fitts Willoughby, Claudia Squire, Sarah Parvanta, Kevin R Betts

Abstract read

PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher

In one paragraph

Article in Patient education and counseling, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

5citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

Enhancing Health Literacy and Self-Management in Glaucoma Patients: Evidence from a Nurse-Led Educational Intervention.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
Article
The risk-value trade-off: price and brand information impact consumers' intentions to purchase OTC drugs.Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice · 2021
Article
A survey of perceptions and attitudes about direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs among college students in South Korea.PloS one · 2018
Article
Consumers' Understanding of FDA Approval Requirements and Composite Scores in Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Drug Print Ads.Journal of health communication · 2016
Article
The FDA's Diverse and Dynamic Activities in the Social and Behavioral Sciences: Advancing and Supporting Health Equity.Journal of primary care & community health
Article

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Pamela A WilliamsRTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. Electronic address: pamwilliams@rti.org.

Amie C O'DonoghueOffice of Prescription Drug Promotion, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD, USA.

Helen W SullivanOffice of Prescription Drug Promotion, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD, USA.

Jessica Fitts WilloughbyRTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. Electronic address: jessica.willoughby@wsu.edu.

Claudia SquireRTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.

Sarah ParvantaRTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.

Kevin R BettsOffice of Prescription Drug Promotion, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD, USA.

Funding

Intramural FDA HHS FD999999

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveDrug efficacy can be measured by composite scores, which consist of two or more symptoms or other clinical components of a disease. We evaluated how individuals interpret composite scores in direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug advertising.

methodsWe conducted an experimental study of seasonal allergy sufferers (n=1967) who viewed a fictitious print DTC ad that varied by the type of information featured (general indication, list of symptoms, or definition of composite scores) and the presence or absence of an educational intervention about composite scores. We measured composite score recognition and comprehension, and perceived drug efficacy and risk.

resultsAds that featured either (1) the composite score definition alone or (2) the list of symptoms or general indication information along with the educational intervention improved composite score comprehension. Ads that included the composite score definition or the educational intervention led to lower confidence in the drug's benefits. The composite score definition improved composite score recognition and lowered drug risk perceptions.

conclusionAdding composite score information to DTC print ads may improve individuals' comprehension of composite scores and affect their perceptions of the drug. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Providing composite score information may lead to more informed patient-provider prescription drug decisions.

Indexed as

ComprehensionDirect-to-Consumer AdvertisingPrescription DrugsAdolescentAdultAdvertisingAgedConsumer BehaviorConsumer Health InformationFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMarketingMiddle AgedPamphletsPrescription DrugsCommunicationComposite scoresDirect-to-consumer (DTC) advertisementsMarketingPrescription drugsUnited States

Identifiers

PMID26589655

DOI10.1016/j.pec.2015.10.019

PMCPMC8827128

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.