Forum Update: Supporting Community-Led Discussion
The forum was created as a space for shared learning and peer support, and as the community grows, we want to lean more fully into that purpose.
Going forward, PAAB will be taking a more listening-first role in forum discussions. Rather than responding immediately to every question, we’ll be encouraging members to engage with one another, share experiences, and help build collective understanding. PAAB will continue to monitor conversations and will step in to:
- Correct any misunderstandings
- Provide guidance when questions remain unanswered after a few days
- Support discussions where official clarification is needed
Our goal is to foster a collaborative, trusted community where knowledge is shared and strengthened by everyone’s contributions.
Thank you for being part of the conversation.
719 - With regards to question #645, the question asked about repurposing a piece approved for DTC use with "potential patients". Is a potential patient not viewed as a consumer? I thought the definition of patient was restricted to those who had already been prescribed a drug. I had previously been advised by a PAAB reviewer that pieces for "potential patients" would be reviewed as DTC. Could you please clarify the differences in these audiences? Thank you.
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In differentiating between consumers and potential patients (someone who has not yet been prescribed a drug), the mode of distribution becomes an important factor. In the scenario describe in question 645, the DTC piece is now distributed through HCPs to potential patients. The interaction has now changed to a counselling tool in which the healthcare professional selects the appropriate patient audience in the context of a condition. As the audience has changed to patients, the content is now subject to the standards of the PAAB code. As a result, the rigors for quality of evidence change.
