50% of consumers who ask their doctor about a drug ad end up with a prescription

The data: Half of patients who ask their doctors about medications they saw in an advertisement end up getting a prescription for that drug, according to new KFF data from a survey of 1,033 US adults last month.

Digging into the findings: Most consumers encounter advertisements for prescription drugs often. However, far fewer have discussed an Rx ad with their doctor.

  • 97% have seen a prescription drug ad.
  • Over half (53%) encounter such ads nearly every day.
  • Yet only 18% have ever talked with a doctor about the specific medicine advertised in an ad.