Being a Health Literate Consumer (3:04) Click here to launch video Click here to download print activity

A health literate consumer carefully evaluates health products and services.

health consumer advertising comparison shopping warranty

Take Charge of Your Health You can learn to make good consumer choices. Being a smart shopper is especially important when it comes to making choices about health products and services.

Making Informed Choices It’s up to you, as a health consumer, to make informed buying decisions. Health consumer Someone who purchases or uses health products or services

Making Informed Choices Probably the most important influence you need to be aware of as a consumer is advertising. Advertising A written or spoken media message designed to interest consumers in purchasing a product or service

Making Informed Choices Being a health-literate consumer means being aware of and knowing how to evaluate hidden messages in advertising so you make informed purchasing decisions.

Evaluating Products There are two effective ways to sharpen your consumer skills when buying health products: Do some comparison shopping before you buy. Read product labels.

Labels give you important information about what a product contains. Product Labels The Product’s Name Labels give you important information about what a product contains. Its Intended Use Directions Warnings Manufacturer’s Information The Amount Active and Inactive Ingredients

A second great tool for smart health consumers is comparison shopping. Judging the benefits of different products by comparing several factors, such as quality, features, and cost

Comparison Shopping Here are some criteria to consider when judging health products and services. Cost and Quality Features Warranty Safety Other People’s Opinions Consumer Organization Product Ratings

Before buying an expensive product, ask about the warranty. Comparison Shopping Before buying an expensive product, ask about the warranty. Warranty A company’s or a store’s written agreement to repair a product or refund your money if the product doesn’t function properly

Evaluating Information and Services To evaluate health information or services, ask yourself these questions: Does this information come from a valid source? Does the service come from a respected provider? If the source is a Web site, who pays for the site? Is it a reputable organization? What is the purpose of the site?

After You Read Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary Who is a health consumer? A health consumer is anyone who buys a health-related product or service.

After You Read Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary How does comparison shopping make you a smart consumer? Sample answer: It allows you to get a good-quality product at a reasonable price; it allows you to identify and obtain the features in a product or service that you most want; it ensures that you are buying safe products.

After You Read Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary Define warranty. A warranty is a written agreement to repair a product or refund your money if the product does not function properly.