The effects of direct-to-consumer antidepressent advertising on doctor-patient relationships

Objective: This qualitative study looks at how doctors and patients feel direct-to-consumer antidepressant advertising affects the doctor-patient relationship. Methods and Results: I conducted open-ended interviews with eight primary care physicians to understand their feelings about direct-to-consumer antidepressant advertising. I performed a content analysis of eight antidepressant and antidepressant add-on advertisements available on YouTube. I also collected and analyzed comments for each YouTube ad to represent the general public's opinions. Using an ethnomedical framework, I looked at the many factors surrounding direct-to-consumer antidepressant advertising including: the object of concern (depression), the social practice of advertising, patients' cultural specific concerns, doctors' values, and managed care organizations (the institutional level). Conclusions: My study points to both physician and societal perceptions of the current practice of direct-to-consumer antidepressant advertising, and its perceived risks or benefits to the doctor-patient relationship.

Grantor dc:publisher

Boston University

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Soya, Christine

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Dc Identifier Other

(ALMA)contemp

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.bu.edu:2144/12638