Implied Claims in Drug Advertising: A Review of Recent Literature and Regulatory Actions.

Federal agencies and self-regulatory bodies help to ensure prescription and nonprescription drug promotion contains accurate information; however, false or misleading claims may cause people to have inaccurate perceptions of a drug and inhibit their ability to make informed decisions. We conducted a systematic review assessing evidence from 2012-2021 on how consumers and healthcare providers (HCPs) interpret claims made indirectly or through inference (implied or implicit claims) as well as synthesizing prescription and nonprescription drug advertising claims that have been the subject of regulatory actions from 2017-2021. Our search identified 16 studies from the peer-reviewed literature and 26 letters or case reports issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or National Advertising Division (NAD). Results from peer-reviewed studies suggest that implied claims can result in inferences that may not be warranted by the material facts about the drug. Perceptions of a drug's efficacy and, to a lesser extent, risk, are influenced by implied and explicitly false claims in prescription drug promotion. Claims related to implied superiority and overstatement of efficacy were the most prevalent claims flagged for review and examined in the literature. These types of claims were also the subject of many of the compliance actions by the FDA and case reports from the NAD. More research is needed to understand how people interpret varying types of implied claims and the impact of such claims on key outcomes. From a policy standpoint, understanding how people interpret implied claims can inform how the FDA approaches these claims in the marketplace.

Military Eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Simulating the Exemption of the Basic Allowance for Housing from Gross Income.

BACKGROUND: Twenty-four percent of active-duty service member households experienced food insecurity in 2020; however, limited data have suggested that few participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). A potential reason for low SNAP participation among active-duty military households is that the basic allowance for housing (BAH) is considered countable income for SNAP eligibility determination. OBJECTIVES: This study explores how many more service members' households, referred to as "SNAP units" (that is, a group of individuals who live together and regularly buy food and prepare meals together), would become eligible for SNAP benefits if the BAH is excluded from countable income in deciding eligibility. METHODS: This study used 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-y estimates to construct a sample of active-duty military households combined with data on military pay and allowances to simulate changes to SNAP eligibility and poverty status with a BAH exemption as well as impacts on federal spending on SNAP. RESULTS: Eligibility for SNAP among military SNAP units increases from 0.4% to 1.5% (263% increase) if a service member's BAH was exempted from their gross income. The increase was driven by SNAP units whose highest-ranking service member was from the noncommissioned officer ranks without dependents. As more military SNAP units became eligible and chose to participate, annual SNAP disbursements (that is, amount of funds spent on SNAP) for the whole program increased by up to 1.3%, compared with FY16-20 SNAP disbursements. With an increase in SNAP participation, the poverty rate among military SNAP units decreases from 8.7% to 1.4% (83.9% decrease). CONCLUSIONS: Exempting service members' BAH from their gross income would likely increase SNAP eligibility and participation among military households and, in turn, reduce poverty.

Survey of Afterschool Programs Suggests Most Offer Fruit and Vegetables Daily.

INTRODUCTION: Most children underconsume fruit and vegetables. This study estimated the frequency and quality of fruit and vegetables offered during snack in US afterschool programs and examined program-level factors associated with offering them, including awareness and use of the National AfterSchool Association Healthy Eating and Physical Activity standards. METHODS: We conducted descriptive analyses and regression modeling by using data collected from 684 National AfterSchool Association members and their colleagues via a 2015 online survey. RESULTS: At the previous snack, 63% of respondents offered fruit, a vegetable, or both, with 42% offering only fruit, 18% offering fruit and vegetables, and 3% offering only vegetables. The quality of the items offered showed that most respondents selected the healthiest options, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. Controlling for other factors, we found that factors independently associated with offering fruit, vegetables, or both were membership in the National AfterSchool Association, using the standards for menu planning, and training staff members in healthy eating more than once a year. Programs run by school districts were less likely to offer fruit than programs run by other organizations. CONCLUSION: Membership in the National AfterSchool Association and use of its Healthy Eating and Physical Activity standards are associated with offering fruit and vegetables during snack at afterschool programs staffed by National AfterSchool Association members and their colleagues across the United States. With over a third of sites surveyed offering neither a fruit nor a vegetable at the previous snack, additional implementation of the standards is still needed.

Consumers' Perceptions of Edible Marijuana Products for Recreational Use: Likes, Dislikes, and Reasons for Use.

BACKGROUND: Edible marijuana products have become extremely popular in states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this research was to provide a better understanding of consumer perceptions of edible marijuana products, including why they prefer edibles relative to other forms of marijuana (e.g., smoking) and their concerns regarding the consumption of edibles. METHODS: We conducted eight focus groups (four groups in Denver, Colorado, and four groups in Seattle, Washington) in February 2016 with 62 adult consumers of edibles. Focus group transcripts were coded in QSR NVivo 10.0 qualitative analysis software, and coding reports identified trends across participants. RESULTS: Most participants preferred edibles to smoking marijuana because there is no smell from smoke and no secondhand smoke. Other reasons participants like edibles included convenience, discreetness, longer-lasting highs, less intense highs, and edibles' ability to aid in relaxation and reduce anxiety more so than smoking marijuana. Concerns and dislikes about edibles included delayed effects, unexpected highs, the unpredictability of the high, and inconsistency of distribution of marijuana in the product. No participants in either location mentioned harmful health effects from consuming edibles as a concern. Conclusions/Importance: The present study was qualitative in nature and provides a good starting point for further research to quantify through surveys how consumers understand and use edibles. Such information will help guide policy makers and regulators as they establish regulations for edibles. Also, such research can help inform educational campaigns on proper use of edibles for recreational purposes.

Addressing the Harms of Structural Racism on Health in Incarcerated Youth Through Improved Nutrition and Exercise Programs.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of youth across the country enter the juvenile legal system. A significantly disproportionate number of them are youth of color. While youth arrests have declined over the past several decades, racial disparities have increased and persist at every stage of the system. Many youth of color enter the juvenile legal system with a history of trauma and stress that compromises their health and well-being. Arrest, prosecution, and incarceration exacerbate these poor health outcomes. This paper examines several of the health impacts of structural racism in the policing and incarceration of youth of color. The paper begins by highlighting some of the most pressing social determinants of adolescent health and then considers how youth detention and incarceration contribute to unhealthy weight, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease through unhealthy food environments, limited physical activity, and the added stress of the incarceration setting. This paper adds to the existing literature on the harms of youth detention and advocates for harms elimination strategies grounded in a public health approach to public safety and community-based alternatives to detention. For those youth who will remain in detention, the authors offer suggestions to reduce harms and improve the health of systems-involved youth, including opportunities for research.

A scoping review of empirical research on prescription drug promotion.

BACKGROUND: Pharmaceutical spending on prescription drug promotion is considerable, and exposure to advertising can influence demand and behavior. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides industry guidance to help ensure that communications to consumers and health care providers about prescription drug promotion are truthful, balanced, and accurately communicated. As empirical research has accelerated on this topic in the past decade, an understanding of the current landscape of the science will help inform future research. OBJECTIVES: Using systematic methods, this rigorous scoping review of the literature over the past decade (2012-2021) (1) examined the extent to which prescription drug promotion has been empirically investigated with consumers, patients, and health care providers; (2) examined the extent to which content and features of prescription drug promotion have been empirically investigated; and (3) identified themes across the literature to better understand the current landscape of prescription drug promotion. METHODS: Databases searched include PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, Business Source Corporate, Communication Source, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov for original research published in English from January 1, 2012, through November 10, 2021, using terms related to direct-to-consumer advertising, prescription drugs, and outcomes of interest (e.g., attitudes, perceptions, intentions, behaviors). RESULTS: Of 804 screened references, 151 studies addressed the first research question, and 40 studies addressed the second. The most common theme across the body of evidence focused on testing of features and content in prescription drug promotional materials (84), followed by studies examining attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors toward prescription drug promotion more generally (43). Some (27) studies focused on targeted populations, such as patients, the elderly, non-English speaking people or individuals of a non-white race/ethnicity. Twenty-four studies assessed influence of exposure to prescription drug promotion on actual clinical outcomes, while 11 studies examined emerging technologies around prescription drug promotion. Seven studies evaluated the extent to which prescription drug promotion complied with existing guidelines and requirements. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this scoping review suggest there has been an increase in the number of empirical studies conducted on prescription drug promotion over the past decade. Potential areas that warrant further study include examination of emerging technologies, an expanded focus on targeted populations, and construct measurement.

Perceptions of sugar-sweetened beverages among adolescents in North Carolina.

Introduction: Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among adolescents contributes to diet-related chronic disease including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and poor oral health. Objective: To better understand adolescents' perceptions, attitudes, and consumption behaviors around SSBs by conducting virtual workshop discussions with adolescents in NC. Materials and methods: Adolescents ages 11-17 in communities with a high proportion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligible households were selected to participate in a series of virtual group workshops during summer 2021. A semi-structured discussion guide was used by a workshop facilitator. Workshop discussions centered around general health perceptions, SSB perceptions, and consumption behaviors. A thematic analysis was used to summarize knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions around SSBs. Results: Approximately 36 adolescents participated across four group workshops. Parents and caregivers influenced adolescents most when it came to making beverage choices. Positive SSB perceptions included liking the taste and the association with special times and social events. Negative opinions focused on associated health risks (diet-related chronic disease and poor oral health). Some adolescents acknowledged SSBs were not healthy but suggested they could be consumed occasionally. Very few participants mentioned any benefits from SSBs; those that mentioned benefits stated they provided energy, replaced electrolytes, and tasted good. Conclusion: Findings provide several key insights that can contribute to the development of messages aimed at curbing SSB consumption among adolescents. For example, messages that focus on catching adolescents' attention and sharing short- and long-term health consequences of high SSB consumption resonated with adolescents, but because occasional SSB intake was not seen as consequential, messages that suggest abstinence from SSBs may not be helpful in reducing consumption.

Detecting bad actors in value-based payment models.

The U.S. federal government is spending billions of dollars to test a multitude of new approaches to pay for healthcare. Unintended consequences are a major consideration in the testing of these value-based payment (VBP) models. Since participation is generally voluntary, any unintended consequences may be magnified as VBP models move beyond the early testing phase. In this paper, we propose a straightforward unsupervised outlier detection approach based on ranked percentage changes to identify participants (e.g., healthcare providers) whose behavior may represent an unintended consequence of a VBP model. The only data requirements are repeated measurements of at least one relevant variable over time. The approach is generalizable to all types of VBP models and participants and can be used to address undesired behavior early in the model and ultimately help avoid undesired behavior in scaled-up programs. We describe our approach, demonstrate how it can be applied with hypothetical data, and simulate how efficiently it detects participants who are truly bad actors. In our hypothetical case study, the approach correctly identifies a bad actor in the first period in 86% of simulations and by the second period in 96% of simulations. The trade-off is that 9% of honest participants are mistakenly identified as bad actors by the second period. We suggest several ways for researchers to mitigate the rate or consequences of these false positives. Researchers and policymakers can customize and use our approach to appropriately guard VBP models against undesired behavior, even if only by one participant. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10742-021-00253-9.

The impact of interactive advertising on consumer engagement, recall, and understanding: A scoping systematic review for informing regulatory science.

We conducted a scoping systematic review with respect to how consumer engagement with interactive advertising is evaluated and if interactive features influence consumer recall, awareness, or comprehension of product claims and risk disclosures for informing regulatory science. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Business Source Corporate, and SCOPUS were searched for original research published from 1997 through February 2021. Two reviewers independently screened titles/abstracts and full-text articles for inclusion. Outcomes were abstracted into a structured abstraction form. We included 32 studies overall. The types of interactive ads evaluated included website banner and pop up ads, search engine ads, interactive TV ads, advergames, product websites, digital magazine ads, and ads on social network sites. Twenty-three studies reported objective measures of engagement using observational analyses or laboratory-based experiments. In nine studies evaluating the association between different interactivity features and outcomes, the evidence was mixed on whether more interactivity improves or worsens recall and comprehension. Studies vary with respect to populations, designs, ads evaluated, and outcomes assessed.

Farm-to-school education grants reach low-income children and encourage them to learn about fruits and vegetables.

For children from low-income families, school meals are a significant portion of daily caloric intake and hence an opportunity to address food insecurity. For a variety of reasons, including children not eating school meals, participation in the National School Lunch Program remains below eligibility. Many states have pursued legislation to institutionalize programs such as farm to school that aim to improve the quality of school meals and acceptance of healthy foods (fruits and vegetables) to address the interconnected problems of food insecurity, hunger, and diet-related diseases. Oregon established its Farm to School Education Grant Program to increase knowledge of and preference for fruits and vegetables among children in low-income school districts. This article outlines the reach of the education grants and examines their influence on children's food choices and behaviors related to fruits and vegetables. We analyzed Oregon Department of Education Farm to School Baseline and Progress Reports from school year 2015-2016 and conducted interviews with education grantees. We conducted descriptive analyses for quantitative data. For qualitative data, we coded repeated concepts and identified themes using grounded theory approach. Education grants reached more than 20,000 students in 30 districts, including 25 low-income districts. The most reported activities were nutrition and food-based lessons, school gardens, and farm field trips. Thematic results included students eating fruits and vegetables, trying new foods because of gardens, and learning about growing produce. Oregon's Farm to School Education Grant Program reached the targeted low-income students, encouraged districts to implement educational activities, and allowed low-income children to learn about produce. Education is a core element of farm-to-school success and can help achieve the behavior change in youth needed for increased acceptance of school meals, better health outcomes, and improved food security.

Consumer use and understanding of labelling information on edible marijuana products sold for recreational use in the states of Colorado and Washington.

BACKGROUND: In 2014, the states of Colorado and Washington began allowing retail sales of marijuana for recreational use. The regulatory agencies in these states have implemented specific labelling requirements for edible marijuana products sold for recreational use to help address concerns such as delayed activation time, accidental ingestion, and proper dosing. METHODS: We conducted 12 focus groups with 94 adult consumers and nonconsumers of edibles in Denver and Seattle to collect information on their use and understanding of labelling information on edible marijuana products sold for recreational use. Specifically, we asked participants about the usefulness, attractiveness, ease of comprehension, relevancy, and acceptability of the label information. RESULTS: Some focus group participants look for and read specific information, such as the potency profile and serving size statement, but do not read or were unfamiliar with other labelling features. The focus groups revealed that participants have some concerns about the current labelling of edibles. In particular, participants were concerned that there is too much information on the labels so consumers may not read the label, there is no obvious indication that the product contains marijuana (e.g., a Universal Symbol), and the information on consumption advice is not clear. Participants in both locations suggested that education in a variety of formats, such as web- and video-based education, would be useful in informing consumers about the possible risks of edibles. CONCLUSION: The focus group findings suggest that improvements are needed in the labelling of edibles to prevent unintentional ingestion among adult nonusers and help ensure proper dosing and safe consumption among adult users. These findings, along with lessons learned from Colorado and Washington, can help inform the labelling of edibles as additional states allow the sale of edibles for recreational use.

How four U.S. states are regulating recreational marijuana edibles.

BACKGROUND: Sales of edible marijuana products have been strong in Colorado and Washington State since the legalization of recreational marijuana. Initially, these states did not have comprehensive labelling or packaging requirements in place. In response to increases in marijuana-related emergency room visits and poison control centre calls, additional regulations were implemented. Currently, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington each have passed into law various labelling and packaging requirements for edibles. METHODS: This article presents the primary legal research findings of relevant statutes and regulations for edibles in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. These laws were identified by using Boolean terms and connectors searches in these states' legal databases in LexisNexis. RESULTS: Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington vary greatly in how they regulate labelling and packaging. Colorado, Oregon and Washington require a Universal Symbol to be affixed to edibles, but only Oregon and Washington require that the use of pesticides be disclosed on the label. Only Colorado and Oregon require that the packaging for edibles bear a Nutrition Facts Panel on the label. Δ9-Tetrahydracannabinol (THC) in a single serving or single edible product as Alaska and Oregon. All four states prohibit the manufacture or packaging of edibles that appeal to youth. CONCLUSION: State laws governing recreational marijuana edibles have evolved since the first recreational edible products were available for sale. Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington now require edible product labels to disclose a variety of product information, including risk factors associated with consumption. However, there still remain concerns about the regulatory gaps that exist in each of these states, inherent difficulties in enforcing laws around the labelling, packaging, and manufacturing of edibles, and the outstanding question of whether these edible laws are actually informing consumers and keeping the public safe.