TV ad for catheters. Anybody else see it?

I'm an avid NASCAR fan and I was watching Speed Channel last night (2-5-09) for their Daytona coverage. Lo and behold, there was a commercial for catheters! I couldn't believe it! I think it was from Liberty Medical Supply, I'm not sure. It showed an older woman distressing over the fact that she had to re-use her catheters, complaining about the hassle of sterilization. Then she said how relieved she was that there is a new ruling from Medicare that will allow her to get catheters and she won't have to re-use her old ones. Don't quote me on the details, I only saw it once and I'm not 100% sure I remember it all correctly.

The point is, that's the first time I've seen an ad for catheters and it seems equally strange that they would advertise on a show aimed at race fans. That would be like advertising scooter chairs and retirement communities on MTV. I know there are older race fans, I'm 64, but it still seems strange.

Did anyone else see the ad?

^^^^ I saw that ad a couple of times in the last few weeks.

Susie,

Did I remember it right? Do you remember what kind of show you were watching when you saw it? I'm just curious how they decide what market to target.

That's interesting, curious44. Is this the commerical?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFEio0OCWek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNUroa7AcPY&feature=related

Advertisers usually don't spend their money foolishly. This says something about NASCAR/Speed Channel viewer demographics.

There are NASCAR demographics and also the channel & show will have their own viewer demographics. Based on the NASCAR demographics below, looks like perhaps a broad-brush approach...but again, the channel & show's viewer demographics would be a most significant consideration. So you combine all of the data and dertermine if the viewers represent a good cross section of your target market.

NASCAR fan base demographics:

75 million fans: 60 percent male and 40 percent female

40 million "hard-core" fans (spend six-plus hours a week on NASCAR programming/content.)

Broad age spread: 32 percent between the ages of 18-34; 58 percent between the ages of 18 and 44

Fan base is more affluent than the U.S. population: 42 percent earn $50,000-plus per year

Even geographic mix: Northeast 20 percent, Midwest 24 percent, South 38 percent, West 19 percent

Arianna,

Great Internet detective work! The first link you put up was the ad I saw. And NASCAR demographics too. The most interesting one is the regional statistic. So much for the myth that NASCAR is only a southeastern thing.

Doesn't it seem odd that this ad would be on a racing show?

Well at first is does seem strange, but it would depend on the channel and show's viewer demographics. All of this data is presented to potential advertisers. There must have been enough viewers in the medical co.'s target market to make it worthwhile to advertise.

We all have our own perspectives. I don't know...isn't it called free enterprise? What's wrong with catheters? Also, this commercial provides new information about a Medicare ruling, which could be valuable info for people who must use these devices.

We see ads for feminine products, hemorrhoid creams, diabetes-related products, adult incontinence, vaginal yeast infection treatments, erectile dysfunction, personal lubricants (e.g. KY His and Hers), and now there's even a Charmin commercial touting their extra-strong product that won't leave bits on you.

Oh and wrt to NASCAR - I found this. Berkeley (Enzyte maker - supplement for "male enhancement") even spent millions of dollars to sponsor an Enzyte NASCAR team just like Viagra! The #50 Enzyte car was (you guessed it) blue.

I'm not into catheters as a fetish one bit, so I would see this commercial and not even think about catheters in that respect.

I'm not a medical professional, so I wondered who might be in the target audience for medical catheters. Here's what I found.

INTERMITTENT CATHETERS

Some people may only need catheterization on a occasional basis. These people can be taught to catheterize themselves to drain the bladder when needed. They don't have to constantly wear an external device.

People who may benefit from intermittent catheterization include:

Anyone who is unable to properly empty the bladder

Men with large prostates

People with nervous system (neurological) disorders

Women after certain gynecological surgeries

You know, as the population ages, we're going to see more and more advertising for medical and health-care products, IMHO.

Was merely my opinion and nice to hear other perspectives.

Yes, it's free enterprise - being stretched to the next level. Those folks who need those and similar products most likely were taught how to use them by a doc in the first place, a doc who, if competent, would advise them on matters related to their use. (I can't imagine Joe or Jane Blow, having seen the ad, going out and buying them without being shown how by their medical professionals in the first place.)

Most of those other feminine, incontinence, cremes, and such are over-the-counter and don't require prescriptions or special instruction for use.

For me, I don't see a problem with pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers marketing to the end-user/consumer as well as the medical community. But again, we all have our opinions and you know what, thanks to freedom of speech, we can voice them.

To be honest, this catheter company advertisement doesn't bother me. Yes, it's surprising to see catheters advertised to the general consumer...it's something new, but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing.

I'm more concerned about supplement manufacturers with what I believe are misleading infomercials and of course, products that are unregulated by the FDA. This means the manufacturer is responsible for making sure the supplement is safe. Just because a product is "natural," doesn't mean it's safe or that there isn't a potential for interaction with other medications. Oh and I'm not even going to get started on those colon cleanse/detox infomercials.

OK. I'm off my little soapbox!

Arianna

P.S. Thanks for posting about this ad, curious44. And, muskokan46, for providing your perspectives. It's an interesting topic.

I've seen the ad many times for people who self cath themselves and have had to reuse their tubes by boiling.I did that in home health for a client for years but now he has a regular foley.Why they wouldn't pay for new cath tubes was beyond me but now they will.Some people use a hard cath tube and others were using a soft tubing that is bigger in size.I assume with the new medicare rules that some now can get new caths everytime they go as boiling them ARE a pain in the ass.

I hope I never HAVE to use them either, but they are fun to play with every once in a while.

I am an intermittent catheter user. I have been surprised not by the ad, but by the concern to use a new catheter every time. I have been using catheters for 30 years. I was taught to wash them out and not concern about it being 100% sanitized. Now this is different for indwelling catheters ( the one's with the balloon).

What I really believe is this is Liberty Medical's desire to create business.

As for what show was playing, I have seen the ads on many different channel and different shows.

Shortsub,

Glad to hear you wash yours out. I thought I was the only one that broke that cardinal rule. I'm no chemist so I don't know if what I'm doing is right but I put the used cath in a pan of boiling water for several minutes, then wash with Betadine, rinse and pour some Isopropyl alcohol down the inside and wrap it in a clean paper towel. Right before the next use I repeat the Betadine and alcohol steps.

A friend had to self cath for several weeks last year and he repeatedly re-used his red rubber straight caths, using the same procedure to clean them. He had no problems and neither have I.

I also made an e-stim electrode out of a catheter and clean it the same way except for boiling. I don't worry about the inside because it was sealed when I turned it into an electrode.

I’ve seen it, and I use the Liberator company. They’re extremely reliable and have great customer service! They deliver exactly what they advertise. I’ve had to use a cath to pee for the last 12 years. It’s not erotic to me. It’s essential. It’s also annoying as hell to have to do every 4 hours until the day I die.

I see catheter commercials all the time. They have them for young and old. This one has been on for a few years now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1SEyXHQVlM

Yes I've seen the Liberty Medical ads for various caths. I have to cath. 3 times a day forlife and my urologist suggested I get mine from a local Ohio medical supplier. They do require an order from a urologist before they ship them, but I am very happy with their service and my cost after Medicare is $50. per case of about a thousand #14 sterile Coloplast caths. They are a nuisance, but have become no big deal anymore.

I see ads for catheters all the time. Mostly Liberator. I don't think too much about them. I know many people depend on catheters to live day by day, so to me they are no big deal. My big question is This.

How do you keep from getting a UTI when you re-use a catheter? I had one in a few weeks ago and in a couple of days I had a UTI. I was really clean, made sure I was clean, everything was pretty much sterile and such, yet I got one. I must have done something wrong.

I watched both ads that were posted. These two ads were the first time I saw a woman in the ad. Most of the time there is a male in the ad. Doesn't matter what sex the actor is in the ad.

Liberator runs the most ads. There are other suppliers of catheters.

All of those adds is what got me curious and finally lead to me trying a catheter. First time was a straight catheter took several try’s before successfully getting it in

Then tried Foley catheter and been using then since