• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

FIND/SVP Study Reveals Consumers Willing to Take Medication With Risks Similar to Vioxx

Posted on: Wednesday, 13 July 2005, 09:00 CDT

NEW YORK, July 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- According to a recent national study by Advanced Analytics, Inc., a division of FIND/SVP, more than half of the consumers (57 percent) were very or somewhat likely to take a medication similar to Vioxx to alleviate chronic strong pain even if it had a slight long-term risk of causing a heart attack or stroke.

Similarly, nearly two-thirds (61 percent) of the physicians surveyed were very or somewhat likely to continue to prescribe such medications to their patients, regardless of the high risk of related side effects. The study was conducted in May 2005 among 1,000 consumers and more than 200 physicians.

"Consumers and physicians are willing to assume more risks than is commonly thought, especially when provided with adequate information on which to base rational decisions," said Morris S. Whitcup, Ph.D., President, Advanced Analytics, Inc., a division of FIND/SVP.

In addition, the study found that according to physicians 82 percent of consumers are more concerned about medication risks now than they were a year ago. Moreover, 76 percent of physicians surveyed said they have changed their prescribing behavior versus a year ago. Physicians added that closer monitoring of patients, prescribing older medications and for shorter periods of time were their main responses to the elevated risk concern.

When asked about the FDA's role, 81 percent of consumers felt that the government could do a better job in protecting them from risks of prescription medications. Ironically, 61 percent of physicians and nearly half (46 percent) of consumers felt they should have the option to make their own decision about prescription medications regardless if the FDA feels the risks outweigh the benefits.

Reflecting the realities of managed care, 7-in-10 physicians wish they had more time to discuss the risks and side effects of medications with their patients. As for consumers, 80 percent feel they deserve more information regarding the risks associated with their prescribed medication. In fact, 26 percent of consumers report that their doctors spend no time discussing medication risks and side effects and only 38 percent report being very satisfied with their doctors' explanation when they receive counseling.

"It's critically important for physicians and other healthcare professionals to devote more time to counseling patients about the risks and benefits of medications," said Whitcup. "Both physicians and consumers need more reliable sources of information to make appropriate and safer healthcare decisions."

These findings are supported by additional data about consumers and physicians' opinions of what they see as reliable sources of information about the benefits, risks and side effects of prescription medication. These findings included:

- A low 29 percent of physicians thought the FDA website was a very reliable source for information regarding prescription medication risks. - Most physicians rely on professional journals (61 percent) and the PDR (44 percent) for risk assessment. - Consumers' trust their pharmacists (87 percent), physicians (85 percent) and the information leaflet or inserts packaged with the prescription medication (80 percent) more than they trust the FDA website or pharmaceutical company information. - Half (51 percent) of consumers feel that advertising and the media overemphasize medication benefits at the expense of promoting the risks. - Sixty-three percent of consumers believe pharmaceutical companies hide the risks of medications from the public. Overall, media sources -- advertisements, news articles/programs and websites -- are considered the least reliable sources of information. - Physicians agree with their patients, with 64 percent feeling the media overplays the benefits of medications. - Few physicians strongly feel that pharmaceutical companies are hiding the risks of medications from them. - Seventy-nine percent of the doctors wish they had more complete information about the long-term risks of medications that they prescribe to their patients.

The study will be further discussed by a panel of experts in the area of pharmaceutical marketing today in New York. The panel will be moderated by Chris Truelove, editor, MedAdNews.

For more information on the FIND/SVP study, please contact Morris S. Whitcup, Ph.D., at 212-329-1001 or via email at mwhitcup@findsvp.com. In addition, FIND/SVP will be conducting a webinar on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 at 11:00 AM ET. To register for the webinar, please visit http://findsvp.webex.com/event.

About FIND/SVP

FIND/SVP, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: FSVP) is a knowledge services company that leverages the expertise and resources of its professional research teams to help its member clients protect and further their business interests. FIND/SVP helps executives enhance their business performance, profit from opportunities and address critical issues through targeted research and advisory work, providing its nearly 2,000 member clients with a competitive business advantage. Founded in 1969, FIND/SVP is the second largest member of the global SVP Group, which serves more than 75,000 executives in 11,000 companies worldwide. FIND/SVP is located at 625 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10011. More information is available by calling 212-645-4500 or visiting FIND/SVP's website at http://www.findsvp.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

The discussion of forward-looking information requires management of the Company to make certain estimates and assumptions regarding the Company's strategic direction and the effect of such plans on the Company's financial results. The Company's actual results and the implementation of its plans and operations may differ materially from forward-looking statements made by the Company. The Company encourages readers of forward-looking information concerning the Company to refer to its prior filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that set forth-certain risks and uncertainties that may have an impact on future results and direction of the Company. The Company does not report on its progress during a quarter until after the quarter has been completed and appropriately disclosed its results.

Press Contact: Lorne Fisher 954-258-1786 lfisher@fish-consulting.com

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Dr. Morris S. Whitcup http://profnet.prnewswire.com/ud_public.jsp?userid=519869

FIND/SVP, Inc.

CONTACT: Lorne Fisher, +1-954-258-1786, lfisher@fish-consulting.com, forFIND/SVP, Inc.

Web site: http://www.findsvp.com/http://findsvp.webex.com/event

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

More News in this Category