Chad Clark's Open Journal : 2008-09-02

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September 02, 2008 :
1) Drug advertising does not seem to be very effective.

The Canadian Press article reads:

  The analysis, by researchers from Harvard Medical School and the
  University of Alberta, looked at Canadian sales data for three drugs that
  were heavily advertised in the United States, ads which Canadians
  watching U.S. television would have seen.
  
  The researchers found no evidence of a spike in sales for two of the
  drugs after the TV ads started to run. There was a marked increase in
  sales for a third drug but the effect was short-lived.
  
  ...
  
  The study was published Tuesday in the British Medical Journal's online
  edition. The authors say it is the first to actually test for evidence of
  an impact of drug ads by using what's called a control group.
  
  ...
  
  Direct-to-consumer drug advertising is illegal in most countries around
  the world, including Canada.
  
  ...
  
  Currently, Health Canada allows drug makers to advertise the name of a
  drug without stipulating what it is for, or advertise about a medical
  condition, while urging sufferers to seek medical help.



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