RealAge Disappointment

[RonBoyd]

But not that surprising.

Online Quiz is a windfall for Drug makers

Pharmaceutical companies pay RealAge to compile test results of RealAge members and send them marketing messages by e-mail. The drug companies can even use RealAge answers to find people who show symptoms of a disease — and begin sending them messages about it even before the people have received a diagnosis from their doctors.

While few people would fill out a detailed questionnaire about their health and hand it over to a drug company looking for suggestions for new medications, that is essentially what RealAge is doing.

 

[CuppaJoe]

Gotta love this marketing concept. Part of its brilliance may lie in weeding out people who don't have an internet connection.

 

[REWahoo]

Part of its brilliance may lie in weeding out people who don't have an internet connection.

I don't understand the significance. Do non-internet user's buy fewer drugs?

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

I don't understand the significance. Do non-internet user's buy fewer drugs?

Noninternet uses probably have less money, see the doctor less often, and when they do they are less likely to ask about a specific "direct to consumer" drug ad or mailing. Focused marketing , so to speak.

Of course, it could be that the Pharma is simply interested in altruisticly promoting the health and well-being of it's valued customers .

 

[CuppaJoe]

I don't understand the significance. Do non-internet user's buy fewer drugs?

You've got something there, they may not need the internet because they see Dr. Oz on Oprah. I was thinking they want to target people who can afford an internet connection.

 

[RonBoyd]

I don't understand the significance. Do non-internet user's buy fewer drugs?

It's cheaper to get to them... no postage or printing costs for instance.

 

[Koolau]

Interesting article. Actually sounds like a tool a real doctor could use to help patients. Seems profit motive continues to have a "dark" side and a "good" side. Go figure!

If the intended use for the data were explicitly explained up front, I would see no problem with this sort of quiz. To the extent it is "sneeky", I find it offensive.

 

[Jay_Gatsby]

Interesting article. Didn't know there was a nefarious motive behind it. Regardless, I took the test and came out with 31 years old... I'm almost 39.

 

[harley]

I don't understand the significance. Do non-internet user's buy fewer drugs?

I used to buy a lot more drugs before I got on the web. The internet IS a drug.