NEWS:Study Reveals Consumers Willing to Take Medication with Risks Similar to Vioxx

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Study Reveals Consumers Willing to Take Medication with Risks Similar

to Vioxx

National Study Unveils Patients and Physicians' Feelings about

'Marketing Pharmaceuticals in an Age of Risk'

NEW YORK, NY -- July 13, 2005 -- According to a recent national study

by Advanced Analytics, Inc., a division of FIND/SVP, more than half of

the consumers (57%) were very or somewhat likely to take a medication

similar to Vioxx to alleviate chronic strong pain even if it had a

slight long-term risk of causing a heart attack or stroke.

Similarly, nearly two-thirds (61%) of the physicians surveyed were very

or somewhat likely to continue to prescribe such medications to their

patients, regardless of the high risk of related side effects. The

study was conducted in May 2005 among 1,000 consumers and more than 200

physicians.

" Consumers and physicians are willing to assume more risks than is

commonly thought, especially when provided with adequate information on

which to base rational decisions, " said S. Whitcup, PhD,

President, Advanced Analytics, Inc., a division of FIND/SVP.

In addition, the study found that according to physicians 82% of

consumers are more concerned about medication risks now than they were

a year ago. Moreover, 76% of physicians surveyed said they have changed

their prescribing behavior versus a year ago. Physicians added that

closer monitoring of patients, prescribing older medications and for

shorter periods of time were their main responses to the elevated risk

concern.

When asked about the FDA's role, 81% of consumers felt that the

government could do a better job in protecting them from risks of

prescription medications. Ironically, 61% of physicians and nearly half

(46%) of consumers felt they should have the option to make their own

decision about prescription medications regardless if the FDA feels the

risks outweigh the benefits.

Reflecting the realities of managed care, 7-in-10 physicians wish they

had more time to discuss the risks and side effects of medications with

their patients. As for consumers, 80% feel they deserve more

information regarding the risks associated with their prescribed

medication. In fact, 26% of consumers report that their doctors spend

no time discussing medication risks and side effects and only 38%

report being very satisfied with their doctors' explanation when they

receive counseling.

" It's critically important for physicians and other healthcare

professionals to devote more time to counseling patients about the

risks and benefits of medications, " said Whitcup. " Both physicians and

consumers need more reliable sources of information to make appropriate

and safer healthcare decisions. "

These findings are supported by additional data about consumers and

physicians' opinions of what they see as reliable sources of

information about the benefits, risks and side effects of prescription

medication. These findings included:

- A low 29% of physicians thought the FDA website was a very reliable

source for information regarding prescription medication risks.

- Most physicians rely on professional journals (61%) and the PDR (44%)

for risk assessment.

- Consumers' trust their pharmacists (87%), physicians (85%) and the

information leaflet or inserts packaged with the prescription

medication (80%) more than they trust the FDA website or pharmaceutical

company information.

- Half (51%) of consumers feel that advertising and the media

overemphasize medication benefits at the expense of promoting the

risks.

- Sixty-three% of consumers believe pharmaceutical companies hide the

risks of medications from the public. Overall, media sources --

advertisements, news articles/programs and websites -- are considered

the least reliable sources of information.

- Physicians agree with their patients, with 64% feeling the media

overplays the benefits of medications.

- Few physicians strongly feel that pharmaceutical companies are hiding

the risks of medications from them.

- Seventy-nine% of the doctors wish they had more complete information

about the long-term risks of medications that they prescribe to their

patients.

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