DOES advertising drugs directly to patients provide valuable health information, as pharmaceutical companies claim? Or does it just make certain drugs seem attractive, even if they aren’t necessarily the best choice for the person concerned? A study based on marketing theory suggests the latter – at least for antidepressants.
Advertisements tend to fit into one of two categories. With goods like washing powder, where there is little difference between rival products, advertising simply raises awareness of a particular product or brand. But when one product has a genuine advantage over its rivals – like superior acceleration in a sports car, for…
