Barbara Mintzes

Associate Faculty

  • Member, Drug Assessment Working Group, Therapeutics Initiative
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, UBC
Email: bmintzes@chspr.ubc.ca
Phone: 604-822-7130

 

Dr Mintzes investigates the link between clinical trial and pharmacosurveillance evidence on drug safety and effectiveness, and provincial drug financing decisions. She is also continuing work stemming from her doctoral research on the impact of direct-to-consumer advertising and physician-oriented drug promotion.

Her previous work was with non-profit women’s health organizations in Canada and with the European coordinating office of Health Action International, a global network of health, development and consumer organizations representing public interests in pharmaceutical policy.

Dr Mintzes holds a BA in geography from Simon Fraser University and a PhD in health care and epidemiology from UBC. She completed part of her postdoctoral research at the University of Sussex.

Publications

Does Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Antidepressants Lead to a Net Social Benefit? Jureidini J, Mintzes B, Raven M. Pharmacoeconomics [Commentary]. 2008;26(7):557-566.

Medicine Reimbursement Recommendations in Canada, Australia, and Scotland. Lexchin J, Mintzes B. American Journal of Managed Care. 2008;14(9):581-588.

Direct to Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs. Mintzes, B. British Medical Journal [Editorial]. 2008;337:a985.

Disease Mongering in Drug Promotion: Do Governments Have a Regulatory Role? Mintzes B. PLoS Med 2006;3(4):e198.

Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs in Canada: What are the Public Health Implications? Mintzes B. Toronto (ON): Health Council of Canada; 2006.

Medicine by Media: Did a Critical Television Documentary Affect the Prescribing of Cyproterone Estradiol (Diane-35)? Mintzes B, Morgan S, Bassett KL. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2005 November 22;173(11):1313-1315.

Introduction of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs in Canada: An Opinion Survey on Regulatory Policy. Mintzes B, Barer ML, Lexchin J, Bassett KL. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. 2005 June;1(2):310-330.

Direct to Consumer Advertising is at the Crossroads of Competing Pressures from Industry and Health Needs. Mansfield PR, Mintzes B, Richards D. British Medical Journal [Editorial]. 2005 January 1;330(7481):5-6.

Do Higher Drug Costs Lead to Better Health? Mintzes B, Lexchin J. Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology [Commentary]. 2005 Winter;12(1):e22-e27.

Transparency in Drug Regulation: Mirage or Oasis? Lexchin J, Mintzes B. Canadian Medical Association Journal [Commentary]. 2004 November 23; 171(11):1363-1365.

Best Practices: An Outcomes-Based Approach to Decisions About Drug Coverage in British Columbia. Morgan S, Bassett K, Mintzes B. Psychiatric Services: Journal of the American Psychiatric Association. 2004 November;55(11):1230-1232.

Outcomes-Based Drug Coverage in British Columbia. Morgan S, Bassett K, Mintzes B. Health Affairs. 2004;23(3):269-276.

Antidepressants and Adverse Effects in Young Patients: Uncovering the Evidence. Herxheimer A, Mintzes B. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2004 February 17;170(4):487-489.

The Economics of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription-Only Drugs: Prescribed to Improve Consumer Welfare? Morgan SG, Mintzes B, Barer ML. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy. 2003 October;8(4):237-244.

How Does Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Affect Prescribing? A Survey in Primary Care Environments With and Without Legal DTCA. Mintzes B, Barer ML, Kravitz RL, Bassett K, Lexchin J, Kazanjian A, Evans RG, Pan R, Marion SA. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2003 September 2;169(5):405-412.

Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Drug Advertising in Canada: Permission by Default? Gardner DM, Mintzes B, Ostry A. Canadian Medical Association Journal [Commentary]. 2003 September 2;169(5):425-427.

An Assessment of the Health System Impacts of Direct-To-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Medicines. Vol. III Mintzes B, Barer ML, Bassett K, Kazanjian A, Evans RG. Patient Information on Medicines. Comparative Patient/Doctor Survey in Vancouver and Sacramento.
Vancouver (BC): Centre for Health Services and Policy Research; August 2001. (65 pages)

An Assessment of the Health System Impacts of Direct-To-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Medicines. Vol. II. Mintzes B. Literature Review. Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs: What do we know thus far about its effects on health and health care services? Vancouver (BC): Centre for Health Services and Policy Research; August 2001. (120 pages)

An Assessment of the Health System Impacts of Direct-To-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Medicines. Vol. IV. Mintzes, Kazanjian A, Bassett K, Lexchin J. Pills, Persuasion and Public Health Policies. Report of an Expert Survey on Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs in Canada, the United States and New Zealand. Vancouver (BC): Centre for Health Services and Policy Research; June 2001. (56 pages)

Direct to consumer advertising is medicalising normal human experience. For and Against - For. Mintzes B. British Medical Journal. 2002;324:908-9.

An Assessment of the Health System Impacts of Direct-To-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Medicines. Vol. I Mintzes B, Barer ML, Kazanjian A, Bassett K, Evans RG, Morgan S. Executive Summary.
Vancouver (BC): Centre for Health Services and Policy Research; February 2002. (11 pages)
Évaluation des effets, sur le système de santé, de la publicité des médicaments de prescription orientée directement vers le consommateur (PODC): Tome I: Résumé. février 2002. (13 pages)

Influence of DTC pharmaceutical advertising and patients' requests on prescribing decisions: two site cross sectional survey. Mintzes B, Barer ML, Kravitz RL, Kazanjian A, Bassett K, Lexchin J, Evans RG, Pan R, Marion SA. British Medical Journal. 2002;324:278-9.

Paper Tiger or Toothless Tabby? Regulation of Prescription Drug Promotion in Canada. Mintzes B. Vancouver (BC): Centre for Health Services and Policy Research; July 1998.

CHSPR Faculty in the News

Study sheds light on patients’ priorities for primary health care
UBC Reports highlights a study by CHSPR's Sabrina Wong on patients’ experiences in the primary healthcare system.

Barbara Mintzes on CBC's Sunday Edition
CHSPR's Barbara Mintzes joins a discussion on the pros and cons of the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil on CBC's The Sunday Edition.

'Private ER centre plans not legal, critics say'
Dr. Margaret McGregor tells CBC news that a private Vancouver medical, diagnostic and surgical facility reinforces queue jumping among people with the money and the means.

'NDP campaign prescribes universal drug plan'
CHSPR pharmaceutical policy lead Steve Morgan discusses how universal drug plans can help drive value for money and reduce costs. Regina Leader-Post and Saskatoon StarPhoenix.

'Another painkiller pulled off shelves'
CHSPR's Jim Wright comments on the withdrawal of Prexige, a Cox-2 painkiller, in the National Post.

'US drug ad spending jumps 330 per cent in 10 years: study'
CHSPR's Barbara Mintzes discusses the implications of a new US study on direct-to-consumer drug advertising. CBC and 680 News Toronto.

'Bulk buying of drugs would save billions, study reports'
Steve Morgan in the Vancouver Sun, Victoria Times Colonist, CKNW, Global National.

'Ontario's shift to private nursing homes'
Kim McGrail comments on Ontario’s high rate of private provision of long term care. In the Globe and Mail.

'Doctors Too Slow to Embrace Electronic Health Records'
CHSPR Director Charlyn Black comments in CBC news on the lackluster uptake of electronic health records in Canada.

'97% of BC Cancer Patients Happy With Care: One-third Concerned About a Lack of Sensitivity'
CHSPR’s latest report—Patient Experiences with Ambulatory Cancer Care in British Columbia—is covered in the Vancouver Sun.

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