2. What Does All This Mean?
What does it mean to be a health consumer?
Health consumer -anyone who purchases or
uses health products or services.
3. What influences your decision?
Media-the various methods of communicating
information. E.g. television, radio, newspaper,
magazines and the internet.
Health products and services are promoted through
advertising.
Advertising is a written or spoken media message
designed to interest consumers in purchasing a
product or service.
Do you know the primary purpose of advertising?
They want you to buy the product.
4. What’s the hidden message?
Advertisers use several techniques to persuade
consumers to purchase their products. Let’s see if you
notice any of these?
1. Bandwagon -group of people using a product or
service. The message everyone is using it-you should
too
2. Rich and famous -product displayed in expensive
home. The message it will make you feel rich and
famous.
3. Free gifts -redeemable coupons for merchandise.
The message it’s too good a deal to pass up.
5. Hidden Message Part 2
4. Statistics – Using facts and statistics even if
they have little or no meaning.
5. Good Times -people smiling and laughing. The
message the product will add fun to your life.
6. Testimonial -people for whom a product has
worked. The message it worked for them, so it
will work for you, too.
7. Transfer/Fantasy – Advertisers hope that the
consumer will tend to transfer these qualities to
the products and themselves and purchase the
item.
6. Let’s Compare
Comparison shopping -a method of judging the
benefits of different products by comparing several
factors, such as quality, features, and cost.
How do I compare?
Here are some criteria to use: 1. Cost-decide on a
price range. 2. Features-what is important to you? 3.
Quality-is this well made? 4. Warranty-agreement to
repair a product or refund your money should the
product not function properly. 4. Safety 5.
Recommendations-talk with people.
7. Health Services
1. Health care system -all the medical care available to
a nation’s people, the way they receive care, and the
method of payment.
2. Health care can be divided into general care and
specialized care.
3. Give an example of each.
4. General care includes primary care physicians who
provide physical checkups and general care.
5. Specialists handle particular kinds of patients or
medical conditions.
8. Where can I go for health care
services?
The six are: Private practices, clinics,
group practices, hospitals, emergency
rooms and urgent care centers.
After I go how would I pay for health
services? Health insurance-plan in
which private companies or government
programs pay for part or all of a
person’s medical costs.
9. What are the plans?
1. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) Pay
monthly premiums but receive most or all medical
services for a few or no out-of-pocket expenses.
Typically use physicians who have signed HMO
agreement.
2. 2. Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)
Medical providers charge less than their regular fee.
Members pay a monthly premium and can use
outside providers but will cost more.
3. 3. Point of Service (POS) plans-can choose
providers inside or outside the plan.
10. Fraud
1. Health Fraud: Fraud is deliberate deceit or
trickery.
2. Health fraud, also know and quackery, is the
sale of worthless products or services that claim
to prevent diseases or cure other health
problems.
3. There are several types of fraudulent products
such as weight-loss products and beauty/anti-
aging products
11. Understanding Public Health
Services
Public health is a community-wide effort to
monitor and promote the welfare of the population.
Some agencies include: American Red Cross,
National Cancer Institute, Food and Drug
Administration, United Department of Agriculture,
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, and etc.
12. Advocacy
It is important for teens to advocate for public
health.
There are was you can do this…
1. Follow all health and safety laws
2. Set an example by practicing healthful behaviors
3. Avoid actions that could endanger the other or
safety of others
4. Get involved!
