DOI: 10.3886/icpsr03994
title: Impact of the Internet and Advertising on Patients and Physicians, 2000-2001: [United States]
title: Archival Version

description: This study investigated public reactions and physicians'
views on the effects of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of
prescription medications and health information on the Internet. To
this end, separate surveys of the general public (Part 1) and
physicians (Part 2) were conducted. The Survey of the Public collected
data on demographics, health status, health insurance coverage,
perceived quality of medical care, sources of medical information, and
attitudes toward and experience with DTCAs and health information on
the Internet. Respondents who had seen a DTCA or health information
on the Internet in the past 12 months, perceived it as personally
relevant, and discussed it with their physician were asked about the
last time they had done this, e.g., whether they scheduled the doctor
visit specifically because they wanted to discuss information they got
from the Internet, whether, during or after the visit, the doctor
diagnosed them with the disease or medical condition that a DTCA
related to, and whether or not their physician ordered a test, changed
their medication or treatment, or referred them to a specialist when
they talked about a DCTA during the visit. Similarly, the Survey of
Physicians explored the most recent occasion when physicians talked to
a patient about information the patient found on the Internet or
obtained from a DTCA. Physicians expressed their views on the impact
of this information on health outcomes, health service utilization,
and the physician-patient relationship. Additional topics covered by
the Survey of Physicians included the role physicians played in their
patients' health care decisions and role they would like to play in
these decisions, physicians' use of the Internet for purposes related
to the practice of medicine, and physicians' practice profiles,
income, age, race, and Hispanic origin. The data from the Survey of
Physicians include variables from the American Medical Association's
(AMA) master files such as sex, type of medical specialty, and year
of graduation from medical school.
description: Survey of the Public: Households were selected using
 stratified random-digit dialing. Within households, the adult with the
 most recent birthday was selected. "Sicker" adults -- respondents who
 described their health as fair or poor, or had a disability which
 prevented them from participating fully in school, work, or other
 activities, or were hospitalized in the last 12 months for reasons
 other than a normal birth delivery -- were oversampled. The sampling
 design produced a cross-section of 2,720 adults 18 years of age or
 older, plus a sample of 489 "sicker" adults. Survey of Physicians: A
 stratified random sample was selected from a national list of
 physicians derived from the AMA master files, which covered both AMA
members and nonmembers.
description: Datasets: 
DS0: Study-Level Files
DS1: Survey of the Public
DS2: Survey of Physicians
description: Survey of the Public: Adults 18 years of age or older in
telephone households in the continental United States (excluding
Alaska and Hawaii). Survey of Physicians: Office- and hospital-based
primary care physicians and specialists in the United States who spent
at least 20 hours per week on direct patient care.