BEING A HEALTH- LITERATE CONSUMER CHAPTER. 3

HEALTH CONSUMER Anyone who purchases or uses health products or services Answer the following questions: 1) Are you a knowledgeable health consumer? Why or why not? 2) What makes you decide to purchase a product?

UNDERSTANDING HOW… To judge their effectiveness and reliability will help you become an informed health consumer How does making good consumer choices affect your health?

INFLUENCES… Habit and personal taste Family members Friends cost

MEDIA Various methods of communicating information

ADVERTISING Written or spoken media message designed to interest consumers in purchasing a product or service

HIDDEN MESSAGES IN ADVERTISING Bandwagon  Group of people using a product or service  Everyone is using it Rich and Famous  Product displayed in expensive home  Make you feel rich Free Gifts  Redeemable coupons for merchandise  Too good a deal to pass up Great Outdoors  Scenes of nature  If its associated with nature, it must be healthy Good Times  People smiling and laughing  Product will add fun Testimonial  People for whom a product has worked  Worked for them, will work for you too

How do I choose? Comparison shopping—judging the benefits of different products by comparing several factors  Cost  Features  Quality  Warranty  Safety  Recommendations

RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER Right to safety Right to choose Right to be informed Right to be heard Right to have problems corrected Right to consumer education

Product labels Name & intended use Directions Precautions and warnings Manufacturer’s information Amount in the container Active ingredients

Media & Advertising Advertising—A written or spoken media message designed to interest consumers in purchasing a product or service. Media—the main means of mass communication (especially television, radio, newspapers, and the Internet) regarded collectively.

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM All the medical care available to a nation’s people, the way they receive care, and the method of payment

Health Services Health care providers—A group of professionals trained in the health field. Primary care physicians—A medical professional who provides the first line of health care Specialists—A physician who has received additional training in a particular field.

Health Care Facility Any place staffed by health care professionals and equipped for delivery of health services.

Facilities for Health Care Services Short Term  Hospital  Clinics  Outpatient surgical facility Long term  Rehabilitation Center  Nursing homes

Health Fraud Malpractice—Failure by a health professional to meet accepted standards

Fraud—Deliberate deceit or trickery

Paying for Health Services Health insurance—A plan to cover part or most costs of expenses and care associated with medical treatment  Premium: Fee insured person pays for coverage

HMO’s (Health Maintenance Organizations) A group of physicians of different specialties who work together to provide medical services to members

PPO (Preferred Provider Organizations) Type of insurance in which medical providers agree to charge less to members of the plan.

Medicare Health insurance program that is available to people who are 65 years or older and to those who receive Social Security disability benefits

Medicaid An assistance program of medical aid for people of all ages who are unable to afford medical care.

Public Health A community wide effort to monitor and promote the welfare of the population

A Community is… Neighborhood City State Nation World

Civic Duty Means being a responsible citizen  Follow the law  Vote  Participate in community projects  Follow basic health practices

Examples: Red Cross—Assists in times of wars and disaster NIH-National Institute of Health  Medical research, grants, funding WHO-World Health Organization  Programs to eradicate diseases and address pollution

NATIONAL LEVEL NCI  National Cancer Institute EPA  Environmental Protection Agency OSHA  Occupational Safety and Health Administration USDA  United States Department of Agriculture DHHS  Department of Health and Human Services

ORGANIZATIONS IN GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH World health organization Red cross United nations

ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH Follow all health and safety laws and ordinances Set an example by practicing healthful behaviors Avoid actions that could endanger the health or safety of others Get involved in events that promote public health Find out which community groups deal with public health issues Inform the proper authorities if you notice a condition activity that threatens public health