Spillover Effects of Drug Safety Warnings on Health Behavior

N. Meltem Daysal, C. Orsini

Research output: Working paperDiscussion paperOther research output

392 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Abstract: We examine the impact of new medical information on drug safety on preventive health behavior. We exploit the release of the findings of the Women's Health Initiative Study (WHIS) -the largest randomized controlled trial of women's health- which demonstrated in 2002 that long-term Hormone Replacement Therapy increases the risk of heart attacks, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer among healthy postmenopausal women. Because hormone replacement is a therapy exclusive to women, we estimate the spillover effects of the WHIS findings on health behavior by means of a difference-in-differences methodology using men of similar ages as the control group. Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 1998-2007, we find statistically significant small negative spillovers on post-menopausal women's likelihood of having an annual checkup and choice of a healthy diet, as proxied by daily fruit consumption. Our results also indicate that the observed spillover effects of drug safety on health behavior were entirely driven by the less educated. These findings suggest that policies aimed at raising awareness on the safety of medications may have unintended spillover effects on health behavior and that these spillovers may contribute to the existing health disparities by education.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationTilburg
PublisherEconometrics
Number of pages49
Volume2012-025
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Publication series

NameCentER Discussion Paper
Volume2012-025

Keywords

  • Spillovers
  • Preventive Behavior
  • Health Disparities
  • Health Production

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Spillover Effects of Drug Safety Warnings on Health Behavior'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this