Analysis of the use of trade names versus active ingredient names using the example of acetylsalicylic acid and Aspirin® in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (F.A.Z.) is one of the most important national daily newspapers in Germany and serves as a source of information for more than 818,000 readers every day. The newspaper has high journalistic standards, which is why it should be assumed that pharmacological content is also presented correctly. Specifically, the differentiation between trade names and active ingredient names of drugs should be correct to inform readers, avoid surreptitious advertising and contribute to drug therapy safety. In this study, 345 articles from 2014 to 2023 from the online archive of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung were analyzed regarding the correct use of trade names using the example of Aspirin®. If the trade name is used incorrectly, suggestions are made to improve journalism about pharmacological content in the long term. The study shows that the trade name is used many times more frequently in the articles analyzed than the active ingredient name. In addition, the trade name is repeatedly mentioned in contexts where there is no need for it. This analysis shows that even in a renowned newspaper, mistakes are made in the correct naming of drugs. On this basis, further trade names and newspapers should be analyzed to counteract the "genericide" of drug names. The use of generic drug names is important for drug therapy safety.