Effect of Multiple Factors on Harm or Benefit of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Ads
| Factor | Effect on Ratio of DTC Harm to Benefit |
|---|---|
| Condition severity | |
| Serious | ↑ potential benefit |
| Mild | ↑ risk of harm |
| Prevalence of condition | |
| Rare | ↑ risk of harm |
| Common | ↓ risk of harm |
| Effectiveness of treatment | |
| High | ↑ potential for benefit |
| Low | ↓ potential for benefit |
| Side effects of treatment | |
| Severe and/or common | ↑ risk of harm |
| Mild and/or rare | ↓ risk of harm |
| Rate of treatment | |
| Undertreated | ↑ potential for benefit |
| Not undertreated | ↑ risk of harm |