Analysis of advertising of over-the-counter medicines on open TV

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the advertising irregularities of over-the-counter medicines in open television media. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, in which two open television stations in Rio de Janeiro were monitored for seven months. The 90 pieces of advertising collected were transcribed and, later, analyzed under the current legislation. All had some infraction, with an average of 3.6 infractions per piece. The most frequent pharmacological groups were analgesics, anti-inflammatories, antiflu and antacids. As observed by other authors, the results show the deficiency in the compliance with the regulations and the fragility of the supervision regarding the advertising of over-the-counter medicines in Brazil, pointing to the need for changes that prioritize the promotion of rational use of medicines.