Chapter 12 Consumer Health
Understanding Terms • Fraud – Intentional act perpetrated to be deceptive in order to gain something of value
• Health fraud – Deceptive promotion, advertising, distribution, or sale of a product represented as being effective to prevent, diagnose, treat, cure, or lessen an illness or condition, or provide another beneficial effect to health, but that has not been scientifically proven save and effective for such purposes
Common Marketing Techniques • Be wary of following claims and phrases: – Miraculous cure – Quick fix – Ancient remedy – New discovery – Scientific breakthrough – Secret ingredient – Natural cure – Quick and painless cure – No-risk money back guarantee
Common Marketing Techniques
Understanding Terms • Placebo effect – A physical or emotional change that is not due to properties of an administered substance. The change reflects participants’ expectations.
• Health literacy – Degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions
Health Literacy Abilities • Proficient in being able to: – Read and identify credible health information – Use technology to access health information and services – Understand numbers in the context of their health care – Make appointments and fill out forms – Gather health records and ask appropriate questions to physicians – Advocate for appropriate care – Navigate complex health insurance programs
Health Literacy Abilities
Modified from U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. (2004). 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy. Online: www.health.gov/communication/literacy/issuebrief.
Becoming a Wiser Health Consumer • Evaluating Health Information on the Web: – Who runs the website? – Who pays for the website? – What is the website’s purpose? – What is the original source of the website’s information? – How does the website document the evidence supporting its information?
Becoming a Wiser Health Consumer • Evaluating Health Information on the Web: – Who reviewed the information before the owner posted it on the website? – How current is the information on the website? – How does the website owner choose links to other sites? – What information about the users does the website collect, and why? – How does the website manage interactions with users?
Federal Protection • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – Protects the public health by assuring that foods are safe, wholesome, sanitary, and properly labeled.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Mission is to prevent business practices that are anticompetitive or deceptive or unfair to consumers.
Federal Protection • Dietary supplement – A product taken by mouth in tablet, capsule, powder, gelcap, or other nonfood form that contain one or more of the following: vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs, enzymes, metabolites, or concentrates.
• Dietary supplements are not FDA-approved – Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the dietary supplement or dietary ingredient manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that a dietary supplement or ingredient is safe before it is marketed.
Federal Protection
Selecting and Effectively Using a Health and Fitness Facility • American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for selecting and effectively using a health and fitness facility are provided in Table 12.3. Š BananaStock/Jupiterimages
Choosing a Primary Care Provider • Is the office staff friendly and helpful? • Are the office hours convenient to your schedule? • How easy it is to reach the provider? • Do you prefer a provider whose communication style is friendly and warm, or more formal? • Do you prefer a provider focused on disease treatment, or wellness and prevention?
Choosing a Primary Care Provider • Does the provider have a conservative or aggressive approach to treatment? • Does the provider order a lot of tests? • Does the provider refer to other specialists frequently or infrequently? • What do colleagues and patients say about the provider? • Does the provider invite you to be involved in your care? Does the provider view your patient–doctor relationship as a true partnership?
Health Insurance Basics • Health insurance – A formal agreement to provide and/or pay for medical care
• Health insurance policy – Describes what medical services are covered by the insurance company
Health Insurance Basics