Accuracy of the Drug Advertisements in Medical Journals in India

Abstract

Introduction: Drug advertisements in medical journals are an important tool to inform physicians about drug usage. The ethical criteria for drug promotion were laid down by the WHO in 1988.

Aims and objectives: The present study was planned to assess the accuracy of the drug advertisements which were published in Indian medical journals from different specialties.

Materials and Methods: We studied 882 drug advertisements which were published in different indexed medical journals from various specialties during the period from January 2008 to December 2010. The advertisements for laboratory equipments were excluded. The advertisements were independently categorized into different groups of specialties. The information content of the drug advertisements were analyzed.

Statistical analysis: In this representative survey, we found more than 70 % advertisements which had not mentioned drug storage instructions and had not warned about major interactions. We also found that more than 50% advertisements had not included the information regarding side effects and the precautions which had to be taken during drug usage. The information about pharmacological data was found in less than 1% of the advertisements.

Conclusion and results: Our analysis indicated that the drug advertisements which were published in various Indian medical journals provided less information which was related to the vital aspects of the drug.