Pattern of Inpatient Laxative Use: Waste Not, Want Not.

magazines, medical center advertising for cancer services unless a specific cancer center wasmentioned, or charitable promotions placed by affiliated organizations. For example, City of Hope, a leading cancer center in Duarte, California, was recently highlighted in The New York Times for millions of dollars in annual health care advertising.5 According to Kantar Media, thatadvertisingwastopromotedonationstoCityofHope andwasnotplacedbythecancercenter.Oursearchstrategydid not capture suchpromotional spending.For somepatients and families, cancer-center advertising may constitute a major sourceof information, raisingconcerns inviewofevidence that thecontentof someadvertising lacksbalance.4Spendingonadvertising isnotameasureofqualityofcare,6andphysiciansand cancer-care organizations should help patients make informed cancer treatment decisions. The effect of cancercenteradvertisingonthequalityandcostsofcancercareshould be better understood.