The effects of an apparent breach of therapeutic regulations on consumers: the Pan Pharmaceuticals recall

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess how demographic variables and personal values are related to people's knowledge and cognitive and behavioural responses towards a major drug recall event that occurred in Australia in 2003. For this purpose, a survey was sent out in 2003 to 1000 households in Victoria, Australia. Households had been randomly selected from the electoral role. A total of 415 respondents participated. Results indicated that higher socioeconomic status was related to better information about the recall event and more trust in manufacturers. Respondents who held traditional or naturalistic values were likely to trust that faults in the system would be regulated by the government or consumers themselves. Parents and older respondents were more likely to be critical of the Therapeutic Goods Administration which co-ordinated the recall. Parental status, education and values were related to subsequent changes in respondents' use of complementary medicines. In light of the worth of the health supplement industry to the Australian economy, the results of this survey suggest that the Therapeutic Goods Administration should adopt a more transparent and accountable role towards the public.

Baby boomers' reasons for choosing specific food shops

“…We have seen similar high awareness in studies of food and health concerns; lower socio‐economic status people being more aware of many environmental and health issues (Worsley and Skrzypiec, 1998). Indeed, during the recent collapse of the PAN Pharmaceuticals Company in Australia, these same groups were more critical of government responses to the crisis (Blasche et al , 2008). We suggest that lower paid, less‐educated people are more aware because the various health and environmental threats tend to impact more directly on them.…”

The Effects of Health Anxiety and Litigation Potential on Symptom Endorsement, Cognitive Performance, and Physiological Functioning in the Context of a Food and Drug Administration Drug Recall Announcement

“…As an example, in 2013 the FDA listed 59 different drugs on its website that were recalled, the majority of which were Class I recalls, meaning exposure to the drug or product is more likely to cause “serious adverse health consequences or death” ( U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2013 ). Previous research focused mainly on the demographics of those who respond to recalls, their attitudes toward the companies involved in the recall (e.g., Blasche et al, 2008 ), or the characteristics of those who fail to comply with recall notifications (e.g., Cohen et al, 2012 ). However, there is a dearth of research examining the psychological variables that influence responses to drug recalls.…”