Consumers get choosy about pharmacies
New
drugs
making headway
New drugs in the pipeline may hold promise for
the millions of Americans suffering from neurological
diseases. A survey conducted by the Pharmaceutical
Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) found 176
new medicines in development for these diseases—up from
138 reported in 1999. More than 100 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are conducting this research to combat
common neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, brain
tumors, Parkinson's disease, migraines, stroke, and epilepsy.
Other medicines in the works target amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), head injuries, Huntington's
disease, neuropathies, sleep disorders, spinal cord injuries,
and lupus. All are currently either in
human clinical trials or awaiting
approval by the U.S. Food
^ i
and Drug Administration.
Convenience is the biggest draw when
consumers choose a pharmacy. That's
according to a recent survey of 1,039 people
conducted by Opinion Research Corp.
internationai on behaif of pliarmaceuticai
services company AmerisourceBergen.
Thirty-four percent of respondents
named convenience as their main concern,
foilowed by accepting a person's insurance
card (25%), competitive pricing (14%), and
staff avaiiability and Itnowledge (13%).
The survey aiso indicates a wider acceptance of generic medications, with more tiian
three-quarters of respondents saying tiiey're just as effective as their
brand-name counterparts. Non-prescription, non-brand name products
also are gaining ground. Of those surveyed, 56% said they wouid
choose a lower-priced, store-brand medication over a brand-name
over-the-counter product.
Overail, respondents expressed confidence about the quality of the
medications purchased in the United States, but 87% said they
wouldn't purchase prescription drugs from another country over the
Internet. They also spoke out on screening programs they'd like to see
at ttieir local pharmacies. Blood pressure (27%) and cholesterol
screenings (22%) led the list, followed by diabetes screenings (16%),
vision or glaucoma exams (10%), and bone density screenings (7%).
Mentally ill remain
undertreated
Wumeo find harriers to care
Women face a number of hurdtes when seeking
gynecologic health care, according to an American
Social Health Association (ASHA) national survey of
African-American, Hispanic, and Caucasian women.
Regardless of ethnicity, 55% of the women surveyed
claim that at least one of these barriers has interfered
with their care. Cost (24%), language and cultural differences (20%), discomfort with a physician (20%), fear of
diagnosis (14%), and embarrassment (10%) were cited as
major obstacles. More alarming, 25% of respondents say
they haven't visited a physician for even a routine gynecologic
annual examination in the past year, and 28% claim they don't
go for a routine exam once a year.
4 Spring 2002
A majority of people with serious mental
illness in the United States aren't getting the
treatment they need, according to a national
survey reported in the January issue of the
American Journal of Public Health.
Only 40% of respondents with serious
mental illness had received treatment in the
previous year. Of those treated, only 38.9%
received care that could be considered at least
minimally adequate, which means only 15.3%
of all respondents received minimally adequate
treatment.
The study shows that young adults,
African-Americans, and people living in the
South are most likely to not receive minimally
adequate treatment. Those who have a psychotic disorder or are treated in the general
medical sector also are more likely to fall
through the cracks. The authors of the study
conclude that public policies and cost-effective
interventions are needed to combat what is
becoming an enormous public health problem.