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Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
Senior Citizens, Others Want Ongoing Review of Drugs
After FDA Approval
But, Oldest Americans
not as adamant as boomers, generation X
 December 22, 2006 – Older Americans (age 61 and
older) are not as likely as baby boomers (age 42-60) and generation X
(age 30-41) to think it is important that drugs remain under close
review by the FDA and drug companies after they have become available to
the public. But, they are far more likely than any other age group to
seek out information on drug safety for themselves, a family member, or
someone for whom they provide care.
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Generally, however, U.S. adults are calling for
information on and oversight of the pharmaceutical industry, according
to a recent Harris Poll.
Close to three out of four (71%) adults believe
that it is very or highly important that pharmaceutical drugs, even
after they are made available to the public, remain under close review
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and drug companies.
An additional one in five (20%) says that it is
important that the drugs remain under close review. Only nine percent
say it is only somewhat or not very important. Of note, the FDA
currently has a process in place to conduct post-marketing surveillance
of drugs (however, respondents were not asked whether or not they are
familiar with this).
Furthermore, many Americans are demonstrating
consumerism by proactively seeking out information on drug safety. About
four in 10 (41%) indicate that they always or often seek information on
drug safety for themselves and/or family members. One-third (35%) say
they sometimes seek out information on drug safety and just one-quarter
(24%) rarely or never seek out this information.
These are the results of a Harris Poll of 2,429
U.S. adults surveyed online by Harris Interactive between November 13
and 20, 2006.
There are some age differences that emerge when
looking at this data.
While about three-quarters (74%) of Baby Boomers
(those ages 42 to 60) and 71 percent of Matures (those 61 and older) say
it is highly or very important for drugs to remain under close review by
the FDA and drug companies, less than two-thirds (64%) of Echo Boomers
(those ages 18 to 29) feel this way.
"Surprisingly, almost three-quarters (73%) of
Generation Xers (those ages 30 to 41) feel it is highly or very
important for this close review to remain," says the Harris report. "One
may have thought that their attitudes would fall closer towards that of
the younger generation rather than to the Baby Boomers."
The public's desire for drug safety information and
their belief that drugs should remain under continued review by the FDA
and drug companies indicates that Americans may have concerns regarding
the full safety profile of all drugs, says the Harris analysis.
These questions on safety may be negatively
affecting their impressions of the industry. As cited in April's Harris
Poll on Industry Images, "While the health care industries are mostly up
from last year, they are still much lower than they were nine years ago.
Pharmaceuticals are 35 points lower than they were (down from 60 points
positive in 1997 to 25 points positive now)."( Harris Poll #31, April
25, 2006)
Ultimately, the findings of these surveys continue
to highlight the need for drug companies to build and maintain consumer
confidence as a key component of their overall corporate reputation,
concludes the report.
Table 1
IMPORTANCE OF CLOSE FDA REVIEW
"In your opinion, how important is it that drugs
remain under close review by the FDA and drug companies after they have
become available to the public?"
Answers for all adults and by
generation groups in percent.
|
|
Total |
Echo Boomers |
Gen X |
Baby Boomers |
Matures |
|
|
|
(18-29) |
(30-41) |
(42-60) |
(61+) |
|
Important (Net) |
71 |
64 |
73 |
74 |
71 |
|
Highly
important |
39 |
38 |
41 |
41 |
34 |
|
Very
important |
32 |
26 |
32 |
33 |
37 |
|
Important |
20 |
23 |
19 |
19 |
21 |
|
Not important
(Net) |
9 |
13 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
|
Somewhat
important |
7 |
11 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
|
Not very
important |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Note: Percentages may
not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Table 2
SEEKING DRUG SAFETY INFORMATION
"How often do you seek out information on drug
safety for yourself, a family member, or someone you provide care for?"
Answers for all adults and by generation groups in percent.
|
|
Total |
Echo Boomers |
Gen X |
Baby Boomers |
Matures |
|
|
|
(18-29) |
(30-41) |
(42-60) |
(61+) |
|
Frequently (Net) |
41 |
28 |
39 |
46 |
48 |
|
Always |
17 |
12 |
15 |
22 |
18 |
|
Often |
24 |
17 |
25 |
24 |
30 |
|
Sometimes |
35 |
38 |
34 |
35 |
36 |
|
Infrequently
(Net) |
24 |
34 |
27 |
19 |
16 |
|
Rarely |
19 |
27 |
22 |
16 |
13 |
|
Never |
4 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
Note: Percentages may not add up to
100% due to rounding.
Frequently =
Always and often; Infrequently = Rarely and Never
Methodology
The Harris Poll was conducted online within the
United States between November 13 and 20, 2006 among 2,429 adults (aged
18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and
household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line
with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score
weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be
online.
This online survey is not based on a probability
sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive claims to be the 12th largest
and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company
provides research-driven insights and strategic advice to help its
clients make more confident decisions, which lead to measurable and
enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known
for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion
polls and for pioneering online market research methods. More
information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/.
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and
be invited to participate in online surveys, register at
http://go.hpolsurveys.com/HarrisPoll.
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