• July 8, 2009

Nearly 50% of consumers report that online health videos serve as a top resource when searching for medical conditions and prescription drug information, according to the 12th annual national survey "Consumer Reaction to DTC Advertising of Prescription Drugs."

Health information Web sites were rated leading destinations to view health information videos (43%) followed by pharmaceutical websites (14%), video sharing sites (9%) and social networking sites (6%).

Conducted by Prevention, Men's Health and Women's Health magazines, published by Rodale Inc., with technical assistance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communication (FDA-DDMAC), the consumer survey informs the FDA's stance on DTC issues.

The survey also reveals that consumers are looking for ways to reduce their healthcare spending due to the ailing economy and the spike in unemployment with 32% switching to a generic prescription or OTC medicine, 27% canceling or delaying a doctor's appointment and 20% switching to a doctor or pharmacy that takes their insurance.--Tanya Irwin