Ignorance abounds when it comes to off-label prescribing, according to a recent Harris Poll.
According to Harris, of 2,148 U.S. adults contacted online between May 25 and 27:
- 51% said they thought that doctors could only prescribe a drug for a disease for which it has received FDA approval.
- 31% said they thought physicians could prescribe a drug off-label for any disease.
- 17% were unsure.
- 48% said doctors should not be allowed to prescribe for off-label usage.
- 73% said pharmaceutical companies should not be allowed to encourage doctors to prescribe for off-label usage.