Prescription Drug Ads on TV are Effective

How do actors asking doctors for drugs prove that ads are effective?

What part of the story do you not understand?

I get a bad rating because you can't understand the source article?

The source story is clear: Doctor's are likely to prescribe drugs when they are asked for by name. No where in your summery does it indicate that. I should not have to read the source to understand the basic point.

"Prescription Drug Ads on TV are Effective"
I expect that to be quantified.

"In a study published in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers report that they used actors to visit doctors and followed three different scripts at various times."
Great. A medical publication hired actors to visit doctors.

"In one script they said they had seen an ad for Paxil on television, an anti-depressant made by GlaxoSmithKline Plc and asked for it, In another they said they had seen a TV special about depression and wondered if a drug would
help them."
Great, the actors asked for name brand medications, or asked about drugs they may not need.


"The reports, “sound a cautionary note for direct-to-consumer advertising but also highlight opportunities for improving care of depression (and perhaps other chronic conditions) by using public media channels to expand patient involvement in care.”"
Great, there may be issues with advertising and the like.

The key point that your source makes and your summery does not is summed up in the following from the source: "researchers found that the actors who asked for drugs often got them — leading to what would be considered proper levels of care. However, in some cases drugs were prescribed for a condition that did not warrant them."

See what I'm saying?

n/t

I have to agree with you. After reading the summary I was a little confused as to what it was trying to say. An additional 2 or 3 sentences would have clearified things

may have been implied, but it should really be stated. I had to read the source to find the point. I've read the summery over and over again, and it does not communicate what it should. My evaluation stands.

is ads for prescription, but doctors who don't make sure that these people have what the say they have. I know that depression is hard to diagnose, but that's why you send someone saying they have depression to a counsellor or psychiatrist to be evaluated. I have often gone to my doctor and told him about a drug I saw on tv, I ask him if it is something I should be using (only for conditions I actually have) most of the time he says no, it's not for you and you shouldn't take it. This is a responsible doctor, the ads say to talk to your doctor to see if this is for you, why are doctors prescribing drugs to people without knowing they have a need for it. That worries me more than drugs being advertised on tv.