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Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research

Date Submitted: Jan 7, 2026
Date Accepted: Mar 18, 2026

The final, peer-reviewed published version of this preprint can be found here:

Medical Students and Clinicians’ Perceptions of Social Media Direct-to-Consumer Advertising and Medication Requests

Willis E, Tham S, Applequist J, Fouts D, Ali A, Mulkey C, Shaver Dominguez N

Medical Students and Clinicians’ Perceptions of Social Media Direct-to-Consumer Advertising and Medication Requests

JMIR Form Res 2026;10:e91024

DOI: 10.2196/91024

PMID: 42024852

Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.

Pharmaceutical advertising on social media in primary care: Doctor-patient relationships and prescribing practices in a cross-sectional survey

  • Erin Willis; 
  • Samuel Tham; 
  • Janelle Applequist; 
  • Delaney Fouts; 
  • Ayra Ali; 
  • Charles Mulkey; 
  • Natali Shaver Dominguez

ABSTRACT

This study examines how clinicians experience patient medication requests shaped by prescription drug direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) on social media. Survey data from 98 clinicians indicate that those providing both in-person and virtual care encounter more frequent requests for socially advertised medications, particularly compounded and branded GLP-1 weight loss drugs, and that perceived DTCA influence on prescribing is associated with higher request frequency. Findings suggest that social media DTCA is reshaping patient expectations and clinical encounters, underscoring the need for clear regulatory guidance and clinician strategies to address digital drug promotion.


 Citation

Please cite as:

Willis E, Tham S, Applequist J, Fouts D, Ali A, Mulkey C, Shaver Dominguez N

Medical Students and Clinicians’ Perceptions of Social Media Direct-to-Consumer Advertising and Medication Requests

JMIR Form Res 2026;10:e91024

DOI: 10.2196/91024

PMID: 42024852

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