reliable sources of health information

1. Prepared by:
Kathryn B. Raymundo

2.  Being a consumer involves building your consumer
knowledge on health, which can help you make wise
decisions when buying goods and services.

3. Consumer Health
 It refers to the decisions you make about the purchase
and use of health information, products and services
that will have a direct effect on your health.

4. Health Information
 is any concept, step, or advice that various sources give to
aid the health status of an individual. The type of
information varies depending on “diseases, sexual
health, weight loss/gain, drugs and alcohol,
depression/mental illness, violence, smoking, eating
disorders, acne/skin care, local clinics, and sexual
assault” (Payne, et al., 2005). The information is critical
as it may alter the health conditions of a person. Another
important characteristic of health information is that it
is continuously and rapidly changing. Thus, it “should be
timely, relevant, culturally appropriate, accessible, and
delivered in a relevant format” (Galvez Tan, et al., 2009).
There is a great need to update oneself regarding current
research and evidence available in the field.

5. Health Information
 These refer to the data and facts about health products
and services you can get from media and people
including professionals and agencies.

6. Health Products
 These refer to substances, materials or equipments
prepared or manufactured for you to buy and use for
the maintenance of health and the treatment of
diseases.
 Examples: eyeglasses, appliances, medicines, grooming
aides, etc.

7. Health Services
 These refer to health information, actions, procedures
or work performed to help satisfy your needs and
wants as a consumer.
 Examples: medical and dental consultation and
treatment, services from beauty parlors and barber
shops, etc.

8. Consumer Health Education
 It is the process of assisting you to acquire the correct
information and understanding so that you will be
able to make a wise decision about a certain health
item.

9. Guidelines on the Purchase of
Goods and Services
1.) Judge which products and services will be beneficial,
harmful or useless.
2.) Know the local laws and regulations that protect
consumers.
3.) Locate dependable medical, dental and nursing
services.
4.) Apply knowledge acquired with respect to personal
and environmental health in the purchase of personal
goods and services.

10. Reliable Sources of Health
Information
1.) Friends, neighbors, relatives – they are reliable
sources because the information they will give is true
and who will not let us buy products that may harm us.
2.) Professionals such as physicians, scientists, teachers –
they are reliable because their information will be based
on research and studies.
3.) Educational institutions – they are schools, colleges
or universities which will give us the right information.

11.  4.) Media such as radio and television - their
information is screened first before they are aired so
they cannot give wrong information.
 5.) Print materials such as magazines, journals,
newspapers, books, pamphlets, posters, etc. – their
information is screened and edited before they are
published.

12. Unreliable Sources of Health
Information
1.) Customs and superstitions
2.) Information based on ignorance and prejudice
3.) Commercialized health information

13. Objectives of Consumer Health
1.) Assist consumers in choosing better health products
and services;
2.) Provide information regarding health products the
consumers wish to buy and the health services they wish
to avail of;
3.) Help consumers recognize reliable sources of health
information; and
4.) Guide consumers in buying health products and
services.