From: ALTARNEST@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2003 10:29 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Direct to Consumer Advertising #03n-0344
Posted to FDA Docket # 03n-0344
November 22, 2003
As health care professionals, we believe that the direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising (DTCA) currently offered in our mainstream media can be balanced with objective and sound health-promoting information that includes the consumers as a partners in their own health decision making process.

After much research into the issues surrounding DTCA, we submit to you a workable
alternative that will address present concerns:
         
         DTCA Interpretive Guides
              1)   In the form of pamphlets, messages on TV and radio, and in websites
              2)   Created to target various consumer educational levels, learning styles,            culture and language differences
              3)   Content:
                   a)   explanation that the purpose of advertisements is to bring about
                    pharmaceutical company profits
                   b)   explanation that there are both beneficial and substandard                advertisements
                   c)   definition of terms commonly used in ads, such as “adverse                reaction,contraindication, Gl, GU, CNS,
                        generic, pregnancy categories”, etc.
              4)   Tips on how the consumer can effectively approach their health care            providers the DTCA information learned
              5)   Life style and behavioral changes that can improve conditions treated            by the advertised drugs.
              6)   Instructions that the consumer seek further treatment information from            their health care providers.
         

We see an equitable resource for funding these DTCA Interpretive Guides:
         Tax Incentives for Pharmaceutical Companies
         Contributions could be made to an educational fund with revenues received from tax credits
         given to pharmaceutical companies, based on a certain percentage of their advertising costs. The
         result will be that companies who spend more on advertising will contribute proportionally to
         this fund. This design will not penalize the pharmaceutical industry, whose profitability, we do
         understand, leads to new life saving treatments.
         
         The educational fund could be utilized by agencies currently collaborating in      the dissemination
         of public health information, such as the CDC, NIH, or the FDA’s Office of      Training and Communication
         
         We look forward to hearing your response to our posting. Thank you.
         
Kristin Altar RN BSN, Susan Clark RN BSN, Yonette Exeter RN BSN, and 
Janelle Stank RN BSN
         University of Maryland, School of Nursing Graduate Students
          Participating in NURS6O6 ~Systems in Health Care Delivery— Fall 2003