Deck 14: Becoming an Informed Health Care Consumer

Question 1

Identify and describe some sources of health-related information presented in this chapter. What factors should you consider when using these sources?

Answer 1

Health is defined as the overall wellbeing of an individual. It includes the social, physical, physiological, economic, etc. aspects of an individual. It is necessary to read different available information and use the necessary resources for improving health. This requires following certain information available regarding health. Some of information source are mentioned below.
Some of the sources of information are:
• Family and friends: It involves the information provided by family and friends. Such information is often questionable as the family and friends often provide information that is considered best for the person.
• Advertisement and commercials: Advertisements provided by newspapers, televisions, and radio are often questionable. These advertisements often provide convincing but doubtful information.
• Labels and directions: The product labels present on the consumer products provide complete and detailed information regarding the product. These labels contain information necessary regarding the health problems related with the product.
• Folklore: It is the health-related information that is passed from one generation to another. The accuracy of such health-related information is difficult to confirm. Such information may or may not be correct and requires proper scientific evaluation.
• Testimonials: It is the health-related information provided by individuals who are introduced as medical experts. They often confirm the importance of the product and recommend the same to others.
• Mass media: It involves the information provided by different forms of mass media. Such information is often provided after proper evaluation and thus can be considered accurate.
• Practitioners: This information is usually provided by the healthcare practitioners. It is based on proper communication between the patient and medical professional. These professionals recommend a product only after thorough research and thus it can be considered correct.
• Government agencies: It is the health-related information provided by the official government agencies. Such information is always correct and can be considered reliable.
It is necessary to understand that there are different sources of information as mentioned above. Each type of information has different source. Blindly relying on any information may or may not help in achieving the required goals. Therefore, an individual must follow more than one information source.

Question 2

In terms of assessing the honesty of health-related advertising, testimonials represent the highest level of trustworthiness. True or False?

Answer 2

Health-related advertisements are considered necessary for providing information regarding health to the general public. This would ensure that people are much aware of the concepts related to health. There are several forms of advertisements that are available for imparting health-related information. Some of these sources may be considered reliable, while others are often unreliable for this purpose.
Testimonials are generally considered non-reliable information regarding any product. Such methods of imparting information are considered irrelevant. These testimonials are generally obtained from individuals who are expressed as experts in the field. But in truth, these testimonials may also be obtained from individuals who are paid money for providing such false information for increasing sales. Therefore, such information can't be considered reliable.
In terms of assessing the honesty of health-related advertising, testimonials represent the highest level of trustworthiness.
Thus it can be concluded that the given statement is .

Question 3

Describe the similarities between allopathic and osteopathic physicians. What is an alternative health care practitioner? Give examples of the types of alternative practitioners.

Answer 3

Trained physicians are those individuals who are licensed by the governing bodies for treating patients suffering from different diseases. There are individuals with different specializations who are trained for treating particular disease.
The allopathic and osteopathic physicians are almost similar to each other. Both of these physicians receive similar type of education. They also receive same forms of practice. Both are certified specialists and can perform the function of primary care physicians. They receive long training process of four or more years. Individuals from both the professions move through a transitional year for specializing in clinical years.

Question 4

On the basis of current educational standards and state licensing examinations, a doctoral degree in allopathic medicine (MD) and a doctoral degree in osteopathic medicine (DO) are essentially interchangeable. True or False?

Question 5

What are the theories underlying acupuncture and ayurveda?

Question 6

Nurse practitioners are primary care providers who are permitted to diagnose and treat patients, doing so under the supervision of physicians. True or False?

Question 7

In what ways is the trend toward self-care evident? What are some reasons for the popularity of this movement?

Question 8

To be permitted to practice in the United States, practitioners in all fields of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) must pass licensing examinations supervised by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. True or False?

Question 9

How do private, publicly owned, and voluntary (proprietary) hospitals differ?

Question 10

The sale of a generic version of a prescription medication is permitted upon the expiration of the patent protection period of the brand name medication. True or False?

Question 11

What is health insurance? Explain the following terms relating to health insurance: deductible amount, fixed indemnity benefits, full-service benefits, coinsurance, exclusion, and preexisting condition.

Question 12

You must have a prescription to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) medications in any state other than the state where you obtained your driver's license. True or False?

Question 13

What is a health maintenance organization? How do HMO plans reduce the costs of health care? What are IPAs and PPOs?

Question 14

The safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements is established and carefully monitored by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). True or False?

Question 15

What role does Medicare and Medicaid play in meeting the health care needs of the American public? Which portion of Medicare is universal? What elective option does Medicare offer?

Question 16

What are the three criteria that must be met by an OTC drug?

Question 17

What is health quackery? What can a consumer do to avoid consumer fraud?