LEARNING MODULE

CONSUMER HEALTH

Have you ever wondered why your mother would prefer a particular
brand of shampoo over another? What about your father’s preference for a
men’s deodorant? What could have both influenced them in their choices of
over-the-counter medicines?

How about you? Do you ask your mother to buy bath soaps that are said
to “kill germs” or those that are advertised to whiten skin? What is your basis
when buying health products?

How much do you know a product that you prefer to use or buy?

If your mother would entrust you to go to a supermarket to buy the

grocery needed in your home for a week’s supply, what would these grocery
items be?

Try writing the brands of the grocery items that you would choose and
indicate the reasons for your choice.

Grocery Items Reasons

Food:

Personal Care
(Skin and Hair
Products):

Health information, health products, and health services are all related to
bringing consumer health. Health information - is important in deciding what
health products and health services to acquire. Health service personnel are
also sources of health information. These three factors are important to consider
in consumer health.

Who is a health consumer?

A health consumer is someone who examines health information in

products and services. The consumer is the one who purchases and utilizes the
goods and services.

What is a health information?

Prepared by: Ms. AILYN M. MARCO, LPT MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND HEALTH
 LEARNING MODULE

Health information is everything that is seen, read, or heard in relation to

human and community health. It could be in the form of print media, electronic
and digital media. A wise consumer needs to carefully evaluate the health
information or else they will fall victim to fake or substandard health products.

Sources of trusted Health Information Sources of Risky Health Information

Medical and health professionals Outdated customs and practices

(family and school doctors, dentists, without scientific basis
nurses, health science educators.

Government agencies like the Paid health advertisement on TV, in

Department of Health (DOH), Food the newspapers, and on the internet
and Drug Administration (FDA)

Private and nongovernment Claims based on hearsays, unreliable

organizations endorsed by the media, testimonials, ignorance, and
government to assists consumer partiality.

Medical specialists referred by Personal options and incomplete

doctors information

Local health officials Quack or pseudo healers

National voluntary agencies like the Superstitions

Philippine National Red Cross

Reliable websites (sites ending in. gov,

.edu, and .org)

What are Health products?

Health products include medicines, medical equipment, and related

devices.

1. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs – more than half a million of OTC health

care products are available, varying from mouthwashes to pain relievers.
Some of the most beneficial OTC drugs can be unsafe. The following are
examples of the risks using these drugs.
a. Pain relievers – like aspirin and ibuprofen can harm the stomach lining
to lead to ulcer, while large dosages can cause kidney damage.
b. Acetaminophen – used for fever and pain reliever for children, if takes
in heavy doses, can cause leading and liver pain. These pain relievers
should not be taken on an empty stomach.
c. Prolonged use of nasal sprays – relieves congestion can cause blood
vessels in the nose to swell and worsen congestion. This is called

Prepared by: Ms. AILYN M. MARCO, LPT MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND HEALTH
 LEARNING MODULE

rebound effect. It can also result to bleeding and loss of the sense of
smell.
d. Frequent use of laxatives – destroys flora in the intertinal tract, making
constipation even worse.
2. Cosmetics products – many health care products are intended for
external use. Some have little effect but due to advertising campaigns
and misconceptions, they are extensively used.
a. Skin care products – OTC skin rejuvenators have never shown efficacy
in changing skin properties. Moisturizers prevent the skin for drying only
in a limited period of time. Deodorants and Anti-perspirants help
control body odor but no product can prevent sweating in extremely
hot weather or during exercise.
b. Hair Care Products – several products are designed to remove hair like
shaving. Tweezers used to pluck unwanted hair may present some
danger of infection when adjacent skin is not in clean. Chemical
products are usually safe but there is always the possibility of skin
reactions, irritations, and infections.
c. Oral Care Products – includes toothpastes, mouthwashes, and gargles.
Water supply containing fluoride also helps prevent dental cavities. It is
unwise to purchase toothpaste with whiteners because they contain
abrasive elements that damage the teeth.

Criteria for Evaluating Health Information

Whenever you consider buying health products and services, ask yourself
the following questions first.

WHAT (Content of the Product)

● Is there a list of contents in the product label? Are the contents clearly
listed?
● Is the information up-to-date?
● Does it indicate the side effects?

WHY (Purpose of the Health Information)

● Is the information provided to promote or sell a health product?

WHO (Source of Information)

● Who is the source of information?

● Is the source credible and trustworthy?
● Is the source verifiable?

FEEDBACK/ RESPONSE

Prepared by: Ms. AILYN M. MARCO, LPT MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND HEALTH
 LEARNING MODULE

● Does the source of health information respond to comments and queries?

● Do sources of information allow customers to give comments and
feedbacks?

What are health services?

Activities that are done to assess, maintain, or improve the individual’s

health can be considered as health services. These also include the diagnosis
and the treatment of illnesses, injuries, or disabilities.

How are health services evaluated?

Evaluation of health services is an important element in the definition of

an adequate and affordable health care system. For a health care company, it
is essential to understand how its consumers perceive and value its products.

In evaluating health services, the consumers’ preferences may be measured in

relation to these five attributes, namely:

● Location of services points; effectiveness of doctors, clinics, and hospitals;

● Promptness and kindness when caring for patients and family members;
● Ease of access to the authorization forms for consultations;
● Price and;
● Diversity of available doctors, clinic, and hospitals.

What are health care facilities?

Health care facilities are:

● Hospitals,
● Barangay Health Centers
● Primary Health-Care Centers
● Private Clinics
● Maternity Centers
● And others that are created to provide basic health services

How can health services be evaluated?

IMPORTANCE Scientifically Sound

Is the health service Has the health service
important and efficient? been assessed by experts
in the field?

CRITERIA FOR
EVALUATING
4 HEALTH SERVICES
Prepared by: Ms. AILYN M. MARCO, LPT MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND HEALTH
 LEARNING MODULE

What are some ways to buy health products and services intelligently?

1. READ – read the labels and look for information pertaining to the
nutritional quality of food. Read carefully and critically all health-
related advertisements.
2. COMPARE – compare the products and services and judge for yourself
which among the products are useful, beneficial, and effective. Buy
generic drugs when they are available because they are also effective
and comparably cheaper.
3. INQUIRE – ask directly questions to sale personnel if there are things
about the product that are not clear to you before buying it.

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Module in Health Week 1:

Activity 1: Learning Log

This will help you integrate your knowledge, understanding, and personal
feelings about health products.

1. What did I learn about health products?

________________________________________________________________________
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2. What did I find interesting about decision making in buying health
products?
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Prepared by: Ms. AILYN M. MARCO, LPT MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND HEALTH
 LEARNING MODULE

3. What feelings do I have about my learning on health products?

________________________________________________________________________
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Activity 2: I am a wise consumer!

Explains the guidelines and criteria in the selection and evaluation of health information,
products and services (H10CH-Ia-b-20)

Direction: You will be given selected products. Choose of those products

and explain why did you prefer to choose it compare to other one using he
criteria and evaluation of health information.

1. Oral care
products

______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

2. Skin care products

______________________________________________________________________________
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3. Hair care products

______________________________________________________________________________
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Prepared by: Ms. AILYN M. MARCO, LPT MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND HEALTH