The document discusses the results of an online survey of approximately 200 health activists regarding health care companies' use of social media and the need for regulation. Some key findings include: - Most respondents agreed that health care companies' use of social media can help people understand health issues, and that companies should participate in social media. However, many felt regulation is needed. - A majority felt that while company content is valuable, misinformation is still frequently spread online. Most agreed companies should monitor for misinformation. - Respondents thought upcoming FDA guidance on social media would increase or not affect companies' social media use. Many also felt the delay in guidance had increased or not changed social media use.

1. Social Media Won't Wait:
Health Activists Speak Out,
Industry Speaks Up
DTC National
April 7, 2011

2. Online survey of ~200 Health Activists
- October 2009 (presented to November FDA hearing)
- March 2011 Update

3. Does the use of social media by Health Care Companies help
people to understand important health issues?
AGREE Health Care Companies’ use of
social media…

4. Are Health Care Companies using social media tools to engage
with people online?

5. How active are Health Care Companies in using these social
media tools to engage with people online?

6. When do you feel a Health Care Company’s participation in
Internet and social media technologies should be regulated?
When Health Care Companies…

7. How do you feel about regulation of Health Care
Companies’ participation in Internet and social media?
Agree regulation of Health Care
Companies’ participation in Internet and
74/73% social media needs to be tailored to
the unique attributes of the Internet and
social media
Agree open Internet and social media
conversation between Health Care
64/63% Companies and people online is
valuable, and regulations should not
prevent those open conversations

8. What are appropriate ways for Health Care Companies to
fulfill regulatory requirements in their Internet and social
media activities…?
AGREE Health Care
Companies…
...should be ...should be ...using real-time ...should not ...should not be
...participating
required to make allowed to communications be allowed to required to
in social media
all regulatory- present a should be participate in include
should include
required shorter required to Internet and regulatory-
a link to their
information version of restate social media required
product
available one regulatory- regulatory- tools that information on
website in
click away from every required required don’t allow social media
their social information information in all space for platforms that
communication
media when social their messages regulatory- cannot
communications media tools required accommodate it
do not allow information
adequate
space

9. What is the state of misinformation about Health Care
Companies' products online?

10. Company Content Is Valued By the Community
In 2009:
54%
Agree altered Health Care Company
content is frequently distributed online
In 2011:
Agree altered Health Care Company
41% content is frequently distributed online

11. Health Activists Agree Health Care Companies Should Get
Involved In Monitoring and Correcting Misconceptions or
Misinformation…

12. Online content …can be altered from its original state by
people who don’t work for the company
In 2009:
60%
Agree Health Care Companies cannot
reasonably keep up with the monitoring
of all mentions of their content
In 2011:
Agree Health Care Companies cannot
56% reasonably keep up with the monitoring
of all mentions of their content

13. What impact do you believe new FDA guidance will have on Health Care
Companies’ participation in social media?
63% “increase or stay the same”

14. (FDA) guidance has not yet been issued. What impact do you believe this
delay has had on Health Care Companies’ participation in social media?
62% “increased or stayed the same”

15. Based on your experience as a Health Activist, please rate the importance of
specific FDA guidance to your online health communities
Less Important More Important