# Presentation: 296433

## The Internet and Useful Patient Information

- A Survey of PhRMA Company Websites
- Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

## Direct to Consumer Promotion (DTC)

- DTC Promotion or Advertising can be broadly defined as the provision of useful health care information for consumers

## Useful Consumer Information	

- Comes in Many Forms
- Increases Patient Knowledge and Awareness about Disease States and Treatment Options
- Leads to Improved Health Outcomes

## Role of Integrated Consumer Education Campaigns

- Awareness

- Depth of Education

- Physician / Patient discussions

- Compliance

- Mass-reach advertising ( TV/Print/PR)

- Websites, toll-free numbers, patient education

- Physician visit / Write Rx

- Patient education on use of product

- Each media has different strengths and purpose in comprehensive communication campaign

## Patient Response to DTC

- 99% of Consumers Have Seen an Advertisement
- 69% Note Useful Risk Information
- 74% Note Benefits Information
- 58% Recall Reference to Internet Site
- Source:  Prevention Magazine Survey (2001-02 Survey)

## Types of Internet Websites Providing Useful Rx Information	

- Company Sponsored
- Disease Society
- Third Party Medical Information (WebMD, RxList, Medscape)
- FDA

## Traffic on Pharmaceutical Websites

**Over 12 million people visited pharmaceutical websites during 1st Quarter 2003, roughly the same as the number of visitors during 4th Quarter 2002.  The average time spent per user has been declining over the last 5 quarters.  One potential reason for this decline is the rapid advance of broadband.  People can peruse pharmaceutical information much quicker on a broadband connection.**
**Source:  Nielsen/Net Ratings**

## Who Are Searches Typically Done For?

- Source: ePharma Consumer® v2.0 (Manhattan Research)

## Diseases Researched Online

- Allergies – 36%
- Depression – 32%
- Obesity – 27%
- Diabetes – 25%
- High Cholesterol – 23%
- Acid Reflux – 23%
- Hypertension – 21%
- Migraine – 20%
- Anxiety – 18%
- Pain Management – 18%
- Source:  ePharma Consumer® v2.0 (Manhattan Research)

## Access to Drug Specific Websites

- Many Sites have their own Address:  *drugname.com*
- Can be Accessed through the Company Website:  *pharma.com*
- Easily Accessible via Search Engines

## Contents of PhRMA Company Websites

- FDA-Approved Prescribing Information
- FDA-Approved Patient Package Inserts
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Explanation and Graphics on Drug’s Action
- Questionnaire to Assist in Self-Diagnosis
- Interactive Learning Pages
- Questions for Doctor
- Information for Caregivers
- Links to Other Sources for more Information (i.e., Disease Society)

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## Need for Additional Research

- FDA, PhRMA, and the Centers for Excellence in Research and Therapeutics (CERTs) held a series of workshops exploring how benefit and risk of pharmaceuticals are assessed, communicated and managed.

## Findings of Risk Communication Workshop

- Current medical environments, such as physicians' offices, are not well-suited for traditional communication methods to be effective.
- Single methods of communication (such as product labeling) are ineffective when used alone, and should be integrated into a multi-tiered approach.
- Messages about risk should be personalized and tailored to the unique practice situations of a variety of caregivers.
- Current technology provides an attractive but unproven avenue for extending the reach of risk information while individualizing it.
- The education of caregivers needs improvement and should provide the vocabulary and background for effective risk communication.

## Direction of Future Research	

- Should use the FDA/PhRMA/CERTs Findings as a Beginning
- Must Consider Communication of Benefit as well as Risk
- Must Consider the Whole Spectrum of Information Patients have Access to