Exposure to pharmaceutical Web sites increases the likelihood that consumers will request specific prescription drugs from their doctors by 89%.
In a study by Vividence Corp., 500 consumers visited Web sites that featured specific drugs.
Before visiting the sites, 38% of the Vividence respondents said they would be likely to request the medication. But after visiting the sites, 72% said they would request the medication--an increase of 89%.
In addition, 87% said they would be likely to recommend the medication site to a friend or family member who is diagnosed with the condition the drug treats.
Vividence, a customer experience company in San Mateo, CA, conducted a study of five leading pharmaceutical corporations, examining both brand-name drug sites and corporate Web sites.
The study also showed that 71% of consumers searched online for information regarding medical conditions before they are formally diagnosed.
Also, consumers said they are just as likely to go to the Internet to get information when they first start experiencing symptoms (75%), as they are to go to a physician (77%).
Consumers also turn to the Web to get detailed information about a drug or condition that they may not have gotten from their doctor or pharmacist, such as a complete list of side effects for a medication.
