# Misleading Advertising of Health-Related Products in Ecuador during the COVID-19 Pandemic
## 4 Discussion  
During an unprecedented pandemic, traditional media increased both the consumption of news and the positive assessment of its news coverage in terms of credibility and trust [2, 21]. Newscasts are not only a segment of \"information,\" but also include interludes or \"commercial pauses\" that house advertisements that almost entirely fall into the category of misleading publicity. In Ecuador, if a citizen seeks to inform themself through the newscasts segment, they must be ready to receive up to seven times more misleading advertising than when watching any other television program, giving the impression that they end up uninformed. Given that through advertising not only is a product offered, but values, principles, and a way to deal with this world are also transmitted, it is concerning that around \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Advertised Health Indication**} & **Total** & **Newscasts** & **General Programming** & \multirow{2}{*}{_p-Value** **} \\  & \(n=677*\) & **\(n=420\)** & & **\(n=257\)** & \\ \hline Colitis, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn & 119 (17.8) & 66 (9.8) & 53 (8.0) & 0.14 \\ \hline Immune system boosters & 108 (16.2) & 86 (13.0) & 22 (3.2) & \textless{}0.001 \\ \hline Sexual complain/improvement & 95 (14.4) & 94 (22.9) & 1 (0.4) & \textless{}0.001 \\ \hline Acne or baldness & 74 (11.0) & 43 (6.4) & 31 (4.6) & 0.52 \\ \hline Respiratory problems (flu, allergy, etc.) & 68 (10.2) & 12 (1.8) & 56 (8.4) & \textless{}0.001 \\ \hline Antifungals (topical) & 55 (8.2) & 14 (2.1) & 41 (6.1) & \textless{}0.001 \\ \hline Pain relieves & 47 (7.0) & 23 (3.4) & 24 (3.6) & 0.09 \\ \hline Energy and attention improvement & 46 (6.9) & 36 (5.4) & 10 (1.5) & 0.02 \\ \hline Others & 65 (9.7) & 46 (6.9) & 19 (2.8) & 0.13 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}  
* Values are shown as \(n\) (%). ** newcasts vs. general programming.  
\end{table} 
Table 2: Advertising distribution, according to the health indication advertised on television, Ecuador 2020. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Evaluation Parameters**} & **General Programming** & **Newscasts** \\  & **(\(n=863\)) * & **(\(n=1480\))** \\ \hline Uses images, names of health professionals, scientific associations, and regulatory & 42 (4.9) & 51 (3.4) \\ authorities to promote the product & & 166 (19.2) & 297 (20.1) \\ Advertises curative properties in chronic illnesses not proven by scientific evidence & 177 (20.5) & 318 (21.5) \\ \hline The advertised indications lack scientific support & 197 (22.8) & 323 (21.8) \\ Induces indiscriminate, permanent, and unnecessary use of the product & 208 (24.1) & 345 (23.3) \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}  
* Values are shown as \(n\) (%).  
\end{table} 
Table 3: Breach of good advertising practices of products for human health, according to broadcast segment on television in Ecuador, 2020.  
half of the local channel advertisements offer products without health registration or notification, exposing people to unnecessary additional risks [22, 23]. Globally, there is an active campaign to \"not spread\" false news or \"fake news\" [24], but if the media themselves promote products that offer false promises, and up to a third of them without health registration or notification, the urgency of pragmatic regulation is evident.