Consumer Health

Introduction

• Topic: Basics of Consumer Health for MAPE Grade 10 under Health First Quarter
• Goal: Understand consumer health and learn to evaluate and utilize health information, products, and services effectively

Key Points

Importance of Decision Making

• Decision making is crucial for living a healthy, normal life
• Consumer health helps develop the ability to evaluate and utilize health information, products, and services

Health Information

• Sources: People, books, media
• Types of Info: Diseases, sexual health, weight changes, drugs, mental health, violence, smoking, skincare, etc.
• Characteristics: Timely, relevant, culturally appropriate, accessible, and delivered in a suitable format
• Reliable Sources: Health professionals, health books, accredited online sources
• Unreliable Sources: Non-experts, superstitions, ignorance, commercialized information

Health Products

• Examples: Medicines, food, clothes, furniture, electronics
• FDA Definition: Food, drugs, cosmetics, devices, biologicals, vaccines, hazardous substances
• Purchasing Venues: Supermarkets, pharmacies, hospitals

Health Services

• Providers: Physicians, nurses, therapists, hospitals, clinics, government
• Services: Insurance, treatment, alternative medicine
• Programs: Screenings, treatments, emergency care, follow-up programs
• Health Professionals: Doctors, specialists like cardiologists, dermatologists, etc.

Health Facilities

• Types: Hospitals, health centers, extended care facilities
• Care Types: Inpatient (stay required), Outpatient (no stay)
• Hospital Types: Private, Voluntary, Government, Teaching
• Examples: Philippine General Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines

Health Insurance

• Description: Financial agreement for health care costs
• Types of Coverage: Medical, major medical, hospitalization, surgical, disability
• Sources: Public (e.g., PhilHealth), Private (e.g., HMO)
• Evaluation: Obtain/read plan, ask questions, shop around, choose comprehensive coverage

Alternative Healthcare Modalities

• Purpose: Complement or replace traditional medicine
• Legal Framework: Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of 1997
• Examples:
  • Naturopathy: Herbal, acupuncture, nutritional therapy
  • Herbal Medicines: Ten herbs approved by DOH
  • Acupuncture: Treats musculoskeletal dysfunction
  • Ventosa: Relieves muscle/joint pain
  • Reflexology: Treat specific disorders via foot massage
  • Acupressure: Pressure applied on certain points
  • Nutrition Therapy: Tailored diet

Quackery

• Definition: Health fraud via unproven products/services
• Characteristics: Big business, spreads fast, targets certain illnesses
• Types: Medical, nutritional, device quackery
• Fraudulent Practices: Meaningless medical jargon, scare tactics, quick fixes

Conclusion

• Purpose of Consumer Health Education: Assist consumers in choosing better health products and services, recognize reliable information, and guide in purchasing decisions.