Health-Literate ConsumerHealth-Literate Consumer

What Does All This Mean?What Does All This Mean?

What does it mean to be a health consumer? What does it mean to be a health consumer? Health consumer Health consumer -anyone who purchases or -anyone who purchases or

uses health products or services. uses health products or services.

What influences your decision? What influences your decision?

MediaMedia-the various methods of communicating -the various methods of communicating information. E.g. television, radio, newspaper, information. E.g. television, radio, newspaper, magazines and the internet. magazines and the internet.

Health products and services are promoted through Health products and services are promoted through advertising. advertising.

AdvertisingAdvertising is a written or spoken media message is a written or spoken media message designed to interest consumers in purchasing a designed to interest consumers in purchasing a product or service.product or service.

Do you know the primary purpose of advertising? Do you know the primary purpose of advertising? They want you to buy the product.They want you to buy the product.

What’s the hidden message? What’s the hidden message? Advertisers use several techniques to persuade Advertisers use several techniques to persuade

consumers to purchase their products. Let’s see if you consumers to purchase their products. Let’s see if you notice any of these? notice any of these?

1. 1. BandwagonBandwagon -group of people using a product or -group of people using a product or service. The message everyone is using it-you should service. The message everyone is using it-you should too too

2. 2. Rich and famous Rich and famous -product displayed in expensive -product displayed in expensive home. The message it will make you feel rich and home. The message it will make you feel rich and famous. famous.

3. 3. Free gifts -redeemable coupons for merchandise. -redeemable coupons for merchandise. The message it’s too good a deal to pass up. The message it’s too good a deal to pass up.

Hidden Message Part 2Hidden Message Part 2 4. 4. Statistics Statistics – Using facts and statistics even if – Using facts and statistics even if

they have little or no meaning.they have little or no meaning. 5. 5. Good Times Good Times -people smiling and laughing. The -people smiling and laughing. The

message the product will add fun to your life. message the product will add fun to your life. 6. 6. Testimonial Testimonial -people for whom a product has -people for whom a product has

worked. The message it worked for them, so it worked. The message it worked for them, so it will work for you, too. will work for you, too.

7. 7. Transfer/Fantasy Transfer/Fantasy – Advertisers hope that the – Advertisers hope that the consumer will tend to transfer these qualities to consumer will tend to transfer these qualities to the products and themselves and purchase the the products and themselves and purchase the item. item.

Let’s CompareLet’s Compare

Comparison shopping Comparison shopping -a method of judging the -a method of judging the benefits of different products by comparing several benefits of different products by comparing several factors, such as quality, features, and cost. factors, such as quality, features, and cost.

How do I compare? How do I compare? Here are some criteria to use: 1. Cost-decide on a Here are some criteria to use: 1. Cost-decide on a

price range. 2. Features-what is important to you? 3. price range. 2. Features-what is important to you? 3. Quality-is this well made? 4. Warranty-agreement to Quality-is this well made? 4. Warranty-agreement to repair a product or refund your money should the repair a product or refund your money should the product not function properly. 4. Safety 5. product not function properly. 4. Safety 5. Recommendations-talk with people. Recommendations-talk with people.

Health ServicesHealth Services

1.1. Health care system Health care system -all the medical care available to -all the medical care available to a nation’s people, the way they receive care, and the a nation’s people, the way they receive care, and the method of payment. method of payment.

2.2. Health care can be divided into general care and Health care can be divided into general care and specialized care. specialized care.

3.3. Give an example of each. Give an example of each. 4.4. General care includes General care includes primary care physicians primary care physicians who who

provide physical checkups and general care. provide physical checkups and general care. 5.5. SpecialistsSpecialists handle particular kinds of patients or handle particular kinds of patients or

medical conditions. medical conditions.

Where can I go for health care Where can I go for health care services?services?

The six are: Private practices, clinics, The six are: Private practices, clinics, group practices, hospitals, emergency group practices, hospitals, emergency rooms and urgent care centers. rooms and urgent care centers.

After I go how would I pay for health After I go how would I pay for health services? Health insurance-plan in services? Health insurance-plan in which private companies or government which private companies or government programs pay for part or all of a programs pay for part or all of a person’s medical costs. person’s medical costs.

What are the plans?What are the plans?

1.1. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) Pay Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) Pay monthly premiums but receive most or all medical monthly premiums but receive most or all medical services for a few or no out-of-pocket expenses. services for a few or no out-of-pocket expenses. Typically use physicians who have signed HMO Typically use physicians who have signed HMO agreement. agreement.

2.2. 2. Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) 2. Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) Medical providers charge less than their regular fee. Medical providers charge less than their regular fee. Members pay a monthly premium and can use Members pay a monthly premium and can use outside providers but will cost more. outside providers but will cost more.

3.3. 3. Point of Service (POS) plans-can choose 3. Point of Service (POS) plans-can choose providers inside or outside the plan. providers inside or outside the plan.

FraudFraud

1.1. Health FraudHealth Fraud: Fraud is deliberate deceit or : Fraud is deliberate deceit or trickery. trickery.

2.2. Health fraud, also know and quackery, is the Health fraud, also know and quackery, is the sale of worthless products or services that claim sale of worthless products or services that claim to prevent diseases or cure other health to prevent diseases or cure other health problems. problems.

3.3. There are several types of fraudulent products There are several types of fraudulent products such as weight-loss products and beauty/anti-such as weight-loss products and beauty/anti-aging productsaging products

Understanding Public Health Understanding Public Health ServicesServices

Public health Public health is a community-wide effort to is a community-wide effort to monitor and promote the welfare of the population. monitor and promote the welfare of the population.

Some agencies include: American Red Cross, Some agencies include: American Red Cross, National Cancer Institute, Food and Drug National Cancer Institute, Food and Drug Administration, United Department of Agriculture, Administration, United Department of Agriculture, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, and etc. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, and etc.

AdvocacyAdvocacy

It is important for teens to advocate for public It is important for teens to advocate for public health.health.

There are was you can do this…There are was you can do this…1.1. Follow all health and safety lawsFollow all health and safety laws

2.2. Set an example by practicing healthful behaviorsSet an example by practicing healthful behaviors

3.3. Avoid actions that could endanger the other or safety Avoid actions that could endanger the other or safety of othersof others

4.4. Get involved!Get involved!