Date of Award
8-2005
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Sociology
First Advisor
Dr. Susan Carlson
Second Advisor
Dr. David Hartmann
Third Advisor
Dr. Victoria Ross
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration relaxed the guidelines regarding the advertising of prescription drugs directly to consumers (i.e., direct-to-consumer advertising, DTCA). The purpose of this research was to examine the impact of DTCA on the relationships of healthcare providers with their patients. In order to accomplish this task, in-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with ten nurse practitioners (NPs). The interviews sought out provider perceptions on four topics as they relate to DTCA: diagnosis and treatment decisions, prescribing practices, additional burden on the provider, and patient trust in the provider. The findings reveal that DTCA has had both positive and negative effects on the relationships between NPs and their patients, but, overall, NPs felt that their relationships with their patients remained strong and undamaged by DTCA.
Recommended Citation
Getman-Dissette, Kelly A., "“See Your Healthcare Provider for a Prescription Today!” The Influence of Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertising on Nurse Practitioners and Their Patients" (2005). Masters Theses. 5058.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/5058