The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of market claims and quantitative efficacy information in direct-to-consumer (DTC) print advertising for prescription drugs. There are two phases to this research: a main study and a follow-up study. In preparation for the main study, we plan to conduct two online 30-minute pretests with 504 adults (252 per pretest) who self-identify as having been diagnosed with diabetes. Following pretests, and to comprise the main study, we plan to conduct 495 online 30-minute surveys with adults who self-identify as having been diagnosed with diabetes. In the pretests and main study, participants will view a DTC ad for diabetic neuropathy with or without two types of marketing claims (#1 Prescribed, New, none). We are also varying the type of quantitative efficacy information about the product (High, Low, none) that provides information about how well the product works. After viewing the fictitious ad, participants will complete a questionnaire that will include measures of perceptions, understanding, attitudes, and intentions. In a follow-up study, we will examine the tradeoff between efficacy and market claim by systematically varying the quantitative efficacy information in the ad. We plan to conduct one online 15-minute pretest for the follow-up study with 108 adults who self-identify as having been diagnosed with diabetes. Following that pretest, and to comprise the follow-up study, we plan to conduct 216 online 15-minute surveys with adults who self-identify as having been diagnosed with diabetes. In the follow-up study, participants will view a series of DTC ads for diabetic neuropathy in sets of two with both a marketing claim and quantitative efficacy information that varies along a continuum of effectiveness in a series of 48 trials. In each comparison, participants will be asked to choose one version of the product ad.
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