INFORMATION CONTENTS OF DRUG ADVERTISEMENTS - AN INDIAN EXPERIENCE

OBJECTIVE: To critically analyze the drug information contained in Ind ian pharmaceutical advertisements. DESIGN: Analysis of pharmaceutical advertisements supplied by drug representatives (DRs) to prescribers f rom July 1, 1995, to June 30, 1996. SETTING: A university-affiliated u rban teaching hospital in India. PARTICIPANTS: 585 pharmaceutical ad p amphlets. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The ads supplied by DRs to physicians in different clinical departments of the hospital were collected. The se were distributed to different systems/categories and a special refe rence to fixed-dose drug combinations was given. The drug information contained in these ads was evaluated by using a checklist, framed by i ncorporating the World Health Organization ethical guidelines for medi cinal drug promotion and some relevant items from other studies. RESUL TS: The most frequently occurring ads were for antimicrobial agents. T he ads on fixed-dose drug combinations constituted 37.9% of the total. More than 85% of the ads mentioned the generic name, brand name, cont ents, and pharmaceutical dosage forms, as well as the name and address of the, company. The information concerning adverse effects, precauti ons, contraindications, warnings, major interactions, ingredients know n to cause problems, pharmacology drug overdose, references, drug stor age, and cost was present in less than 40% of these ads. CONCLUSIONS: There has been inadequate information in pharmaceutical ads supplied b y DRs to the physicians in India. The current scenario could be improv ed by formulating some definite legislative guidelines for the minimum level of information to be included in pharmaceutical ads and adherin g to that legislation.