Where to Find Credible Joint Care Information
We all have our favorite commercials or advertisements that make us do a double-take or leave us reciting a catchy tag line. Direct-to-consumer marketing is a powerful tool and can be used to get people interested in and possibly purchase a company’s product. In the material world this is an accepted form of advertising as it affords companies the ability to directly influence the consumer. It is through these mechanisms that a person can find themselves constantly upgrading their phone, buying the latest electronic device or trying new food products.
Do your research and speak to your surgeon. New total knee replacement implants or new technologies used during the surgery may not have the evidence, track record or data to support their use. Likewise, novel knee joint injections promising to cure arthritis with “stem cell” or similar therapies are most likely not supported by evidence based medicine.
Smartphones, tablet computers and breakfast cereal are tangible items that we can take for a “test drive” before purchasing. We cannot do the same in healthcare. It is important to research and read the fine print in the direct-to-consumer marketing that occurs in healthcare advertising.
In 1991, there was approximately $55 million spent on advertising prescription drugs; this has grown to more than $3 billion.
Maintaining a healthy amount of skepticism is crucial. If the marketing sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
Be Skeptical
Recently a satellite cable company with some very memorable advertisements was forced to remove their television advertisements as they were making unsubstantiated claims. Consumers should be equally skeptical of advertising for implants, drugs, surgical procedures and specific approaches that may or may not have substantial data or research to support the claims.
Since the FDA relaxed the rules in 1997 on direct-to-consumer marketing, there has been a tremendous increase in advertisements via television, printed media, the Internet and radio ads. Guidelines to monitor such promotions are somewhat vague, so it is important to seek legitimate sources for accurate information.
Use Credible Sources
There are several sources of substantiated, peer-reviewed information about knee replacements including the AAHKS website. These are just some of the examples of topics that have been thoroughly vetted by AAHKS members and experienced surgeons:
