Docs Say No To Pulling Drugs Containing Acetaminophen Off The Market

HCD Research Logo. (PRNewsFoto/HCD Research)

FLEMINGTON, NJ UNITED STATES

- Majority have not changed prescribing habits despite FDA warnings -

Flemington, NJ/PRNewswire/ -- A new national media study among 589 physicians revealed that the majority of physicians (82%) do not believe that drugs containing acetaminophen should be pulled off the market.

(Logo:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071204/NYTU133LOGO)

The study was conducted by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com(R) website during July 17-19, to obtain physicians' perceptions of a CNN news clip which outlined an FDA committee's recent concern regarding acetaminophen, a drug found in several common prescription and non-prescription products. To view agreement curves and detailed results go to: www.mediacurves.com.

"Physicians expressed sharp disagreement when the CNN reporter stated: 'the committee said yank them off the market -- no more Vicodin, no more Percocet,' as evidenced by the downward spiral of our automated response curves," explained Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research.

The majority of doctors (70%) reported that the FDA's warnings and concerns regarding the acetaminophen have not affected their prescribing habits.

Among the findings:

"Have your prescribing habits changed since becoming aware of the FDA's recent warnings and concerns regarding the drug Acetaminophen? Select all that apply."

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		Total
		(n=589)
		------
More likely to prescribe products containing Acetaminophen		1%
Less likely to prescribe products containing Acetaminophen		8%
More likely to discuss warnings and dosage instructions with patients who are prescribed or use Acetaminophen products		29%
No change in prescribing habits for products containing Acetaminophen		70%
Other		1%

"Do you think the FDA should pull Acetaminophen products?"

	Total
	(n=589)
	------
Yes, both prescription and non-prescription Acetaminophen products	4%
Yes, prescription Acetaminophen products only	6%
Yes, non-prescription Acetaminophen products only	3%
Yes, they should pull only certain products containing Acetaminophen.	6%
No, they should not pull any Acetaminophen products	82%

While viewing the video, participants indicated their levels of agreement by moving their mouse from left to right on a continuum. The responses were recorded in quarter-second intervals and reported in the form of curves. The participants were also asked to respond to post-viewing questions.

HCD Research is a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ. For additional information on HCD Research, access the company's website at www.hcdi.net. MediaCurves.com(R) (www.mediacurves.com) is a media measurement website that provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans' perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.

SOURCE: HCD Research