Quality of pharmaceutical advertising and gender bias in medical journals (1998-2008): a review of the scientific literature

Objective: To review the scientific literature on pharmaceutical advertising aimed at health professionals in order to determine whether gender bias has decreased and the quality of information in pharmaceutical advertising has improved over time. Methods: We performed a content analysis of original articles dealing with medical drug promotion (1998-2008), according to quality criteria such as (a) the number, validity and accessibility of bibliographic references provided in pharmaceutical advertising and (b) the extent to which gender representations were consistent with the prevalence of the diseases. Databases: PUBMED, Medline, Scopus, Sociological Abstract, Eric and LILACS. Results: We reviewed 31 articles that analyzed advertising in medical journals from 1975-2005 and were published between 1998 and 2008. We found that the number of references used to support pharmaceutical advertising claims increased from 1975 but that 50% of these references were not valid. There was a tendency to depict men in paid productive roles, while women appeared inside the home or in non-occupational social contexts. Advertisements for psychotropic and cardiovascular drugs overrepresented women and men respectively. Conclusions: The use of bibliographic references increased between 1998 and 2008. However, representation of traditional male-female roles was similar in 1975 and 2005. Pharmaceutical advertisements may contribute to reinforcing the perception that certain diseases are associated with the most frequently portrayed sex.

Japan through children's literature : an annotated bibliography /

Includes indexes.

Radioactive waste management : a bibliography of publicly available literature pertaining to the USAEC's Savannah River, S.C., production site /

Mode of access: Internet.

Radioactive waste management : a bibliography of publicly available literature pretaining to the USAEC's National Reactor Testing Station, Idaho /

"August 1973."

Radiation detection : a literature search /

This bibliography contains 335 selected references on detection and measurement of radiation from isotopes when used in physical and biological research. These references were selected from scientific journals published during 1948-1957. A list of journals from which the references were selected and an author index are included.

Beryllium--fabrication and joining : a literature search /

This search, containing 128 references, was prepared to serve as a guide to the report literature on the fabrication and joining of beryllium. Studies on compacts and powder metallurgy are included. Articles selected from scientific journals and which appear in Nuclear Science Abstracts (NSA) are included. Reports are listed alpha-numerically under the issuing agency.

Whole body counters : a literature search /

This search contains 64 references. Citations are included to both report literature and to articles appearing in scientific journals. Reports are listed alphanumerically under the issuing agency.

Hot laboratories : a literature search /

This search, containing 126 references, was prepared to serve as a guide to the report literature on the design and construction of hot laboratories. These reports are listed alpha-numerically. Articles selected from scientific journals and which appear in the 1951 thru 1959 issues of Nuclear Science Abstracts (NSA) are included. These articles are listed under Published References according to NSA reference number, and therefore chronologically.

Tritium handling : a literature search /

Included are 157 references to reports, journals, and other literature related to the problems and techniques of tritium handling. The subject scope embraces analytical and monitoring procedures and instruments, physiological effects, and safety measures and standards.

Radioactive waste management : a bibliography of publicly available literature pertaining to the USAEC's Hanford, Washington Production Site /

"August 1973."

A bibliography of the world literature on blood pressure, 1920-1950.

v. 1. Authors and titles.--v. 2. Author index and title index.--v. 3. Abstracts.

A bibliography of the dialect literature of Cumberland and Westmorland, and Lancashire North-of-the-Sands.

Mode of access: Internet.