S2 Ep11: Pharmacy Focus: Limited Series - Celebrity Endorsements in Pharmaceuticals

The podcast discussed the impact and effectiveness of celebrity endorsements in the pharmaceutical industry. It covered how health care professionals are working to address misinformation through community outreach and multicomponent interventions. Regulation differences between prescription drugs, OTC medications, and dietary supplements were highlighted by Christina Madison, PharmD, FCCP, AAHIVP, the Public Health Pharmacist. Celebrity endorsements were said to potentially contribute to misinformation if claims aren't verified. While endorsements can raise awareness, medical experts cautioned that popularity doesn't equal scientific merit, said Alfred L’Altrelli, PharmD, CFMC, MBA, the senior director of pharmacy at UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside. An interesting finding showed music videos being used as health education sources in Africa discussed by Andrew Mcnab, MD, professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. While endorsements can begin conversations, pharmacists were identified as the trusted medical sources. They were urged to educate patients, especially on less regulated OTC products and supplements. The podcast emphasized pharmacists' important roles as gatekeepers and advocates for providing accurate health information and guidance to patients, Troy Trygstad, PharmD, PhD, MBA, the executive director of CPESN USA, said.

Experts Include:
Christina Madison, PharmD, FCCP, AAHIVP, the Public Health Pharmacist; Alfred L’Altrelli, PharmD, CFMC, MBA, the senior director of pharmacy at UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside; Andrew Mcnab, MD, professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia; and Troy Trygstad, PharmD, PhD, MBA, the executive director of CPESN USA.

Key Takeaways
1. Multicomponent interventions like addressing specific populations, increasing knowledge, and engaging community leaders can effectively address vaccine misinformation.
2. It's important to differentiate between unintentional misinformation and intentional disinformation.
3. OTC supplements and vitamins are less regulated than prescription drugs and claims may not be evidence-based.
4. Celebrity endorsements can raise awareness, but claims should be verified, and patients need guidance from medical professionals.
5. Personal endorsements from celebrities affected by conditions may be more effective than endorsements unrelated to health.
6. Different media types impact message effectiveness. TV is broad but social media allows targeted messaging.
7. Music videos using repetition and visuals can be an effective health promotion tool.
8. Pharmacists serve as trusted medical sources and should educate patients, especially on OTC products.

References
1. Peters MDJ. Addressing vaccine hesitancy and resistance for COVID-19 vaccines. Int J Nurs Stud. 2022;131:104241. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104241
2. Mospan CM, Alexander KM. Utilizing celebrity endorsements to teach over-the-counter medication and dietary supplement regulations. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2018;10(11):1507-1511. doi:10.1016/j.cptl.2018.08.001
3. Macnab AJ, Mukisa R. Celebrity endorsed music videos: innovation to foster youth health promotion. Health Promot Int. 2019;34(4):716-725. doi:10.1093/heapro/day042