Advertising Techniques and Biologic Treatment in Psoriasis
摘要
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that produces uncomfortable scaly plaques. For patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, a biologic may be the optimal treatment. However, a biologic is more beneficial if proper adherence is maintained. Traditional medical techniques to improve patient adherence have been ineffective. Advertisement is a field of business that aims to influence consumer decision-making. This chapter describes the ways in which common advertising techniques are used to influence customer decisions in business and then consider their implications for increasing adherence to biologic therapy in a clinical setting. Anchoring, anecdotes, and imagery all seek to influence decision-making by including information that is not entirely necessary to a consumer’s decision, while another concept, called framing, withholds a certain perspective from the consumer to influence their decision. In advertising, these strategies are used to turn a profit, but in medicine, they could be used to improve adherence. These strategies raise ethical concerns from an autonomy standpoint but could support patient beneficence if greater adherence is achieved. Ultimately, it is up to the provider to consider these advertising strategies on a case-by-case basis to determine if a patient could benefit from an advertising technique.